4UUE 

B     '. 

1 

f^V^     ••    ■-•v-;-:->3 

I 

SOLDIERS' 
SPOKEN 
FRENCH 

■ 

Z\20      M 
B6C8      ■ 
|918       i 

r 

1 

0  ^mt 

3  ^Sl 
6  ""^ 

-  .   .-  .•"_ 

1 

■■:.  ■:!■ 

.  ^ 

-■  •'-■  .".•■.•   ■'.                               '  '.'y 

i 

• 

^^^H 

>rnia 
il 

?W  ■  ^>    /       i-VV  ■  .           ^ 

^^^^^■r 

t. 

! 

JA^ 


50LDILRS' 

Spoken  French 

With 

CORRLCT  PHONETIC  PRONUNCIATION 

Contains  also 

Phrases  and  Vocabulary  of  Military  and 
General  Terms 

By 

HLLLNL  CROSS 

(H^lene  Fodor) 

THIRD  EDITION— RLVI5LD  AND  IMPROVED 


NEW  YORK 

L.  P.  DUTTON  &  CO. 

681  FIFTH  AVENUE 


COPYRIGHT,    1917, 

Bt  e.  p.  button  &  CO. 


First  printing June,  1917 

Second  printing July,  1917 

Third  printing ^ August,  ,1917 

Fou',thp;nnii;iy . ..  I.  .*.  i.  I. .  .1.  .*% . .'. .',.  .'^i... . :..  . .  /:./'.  .*.  ;A'ug7l3t,\l917 

lijtl  ^riii\ti^\,.'r,'.  .*.:  J 1  :.\\.  , ,/ •.  .v.*.  .  .-.  .*-.' .  .Beptef.idetr^  1917 

Sixth  printing , v  •-•  't  •.••••••••••••  ••*-,•  •,  ^Octobhr*, •  i9i7 

Se'renth  plrinfivgl  .  . ! .  .".J. .  ^•.  ......  ^\.  **.:  ^.•!l.-j .  ?.  .  .•*.,.  \.Q^tob\r,  >l^j'7 

Eiyhiff  friritlr}^.'.  ..•..•.,?  .•».•.  ».».*.  .•.»,-.  ..•...*...'•...♦...*.  .hiovembfr,   1917' 

Ninth  printing ..'.".' March,  1918 

Tenth  printing July,  1918 


Printed  in  the  United  States  of  America 


^ 


PUBLISHERS'    NOTK 

We  believe  that  those  of  us  who  have  wrestled  with  diction- 
'  aries  and  grammars  iu  our  youth  must  have  often  envied  the 
A.postles  when  the  gift  of  tongues  fell  on  them,  and  they  began 
Ko  speak  to  the  "Parthians  and  Medes  and  Elamites  and  the 
dwellers  in  Mesopotamia ' '  and  the  rest,  in  their  own  most  vari- 
ous languages.  Unfortunately,  however,  nowadays,  every  exten- 
sion of  our  linguistic  frontiers  has  to  be  paid  for  with  much 
hard  and  irritating  work  and  any  short  cut  to  the  acquisition  of 
a  foreign  tongue  must  be  looked  on  as  more  than  a  mere  con- 
venience; it  is  a  positive  blessing. 

Here,  in  this  little  book,  is  just  such  a  short  cut,  and  to  the 
most  important  (for  us)  of  all  foreign  languages.    Our  soldiers 
may  be  able  to  get  along  without  modern  Greek,  without  Portu- 
guese, without  Bussian,  though  it  would  be  handy  for  them  to 
be  able  to  greet  their  comrades  of  those  nations,  but  one  lan- 
guage  is  practically  indispensable   for  them, — French.     They 
will  train  in  France  and  fight  in  France;   they  will  associate 
with  French  troops,  French  ofiScials,  French  civilians,  and,  as 
a  matter  of  practical  efficiency,  they  must  learn  to  express  their 
elementary  military  and  social  needs  in  the  language  of  France. 
Here  is  exactly  what  they  will  want,  in  the  trenches,  in  camp, 
.:'rand  on  the  way  to  the  front;  and  in  such  a  form  that  any  man 
^  who  digests  this  little  book  will  have  all  that  he  practically 
sz  needs  and  yet  not  burden  his  memory  with  anything  unneces- 

UJf  As  regards  her  method,  the  author  of  this  book  has  had  a 
real  inspiration.  Instead  of  laboriously  compiling  a  phrase- 
^ook  in  the  usual  way,  she  has  written  down  the  actual  verbal 


370068 


French  lessons  sne  gave  to  ner  class  ot  soldiera  in  New  Siealand, 
beginning  straight  away  with  words  and  sentences  just  as  chil- 
dren learn  their  own  language,  and  only  giving  a  few  short 
and  essential  gramma,tical  rules  one  by  one,  as  the  knowledge 
of  them  becomes  necessary.  The  book  is,  in  fact,  so  arranged 
that  it  can  be  learned  by  the  student  without  putting  pen  to 
paper:  though,  of  course,  the  work,  where  possible,  should  be 
written. 

Just  one  word  of  caution  to  the  would-be  student  concerning 
the  author's  original,  and  so  far  entirely  successful,  system  of 
phonetic  pronunciation  of  French.  It  will  be  noticed  that 
Madame  Cross  ends  her  phonograms  of  words  like  le,  te,  with 
the  letter  *'r.'*  This  "r"  must  be  kept  silent  in  the  pronun- 
ciation. It£  use  is  to  ensure  the  correct  value  of  the  vowel 
before  it,  and  it  is  not  meant  to  be  sounded,  any  more  than  we 
really  sound  the  final  <  *  r  "  in  words  like  '  *  for, "  or  "  sooner. ' ' 
In  fact  it  is  an  English  final  * '  r, ' '  and  not  a  French  one. 

In  conclusion,  we  can  but  hope  that  this  little  book  will  do  for 
the  boys  of  America  what  it  has  already  done,  and  is  still  doing, 
for  the  gallant  Anzacs. 

THE  PUBUSHEES. 


SOLDIERS'  SPOKEN  FRENCH 


Part  I. 

LESSON  I. 
PEONTJNCIATION. 

The  approximate  pronunciation  of  each  word  will  be 
found,  as  the  sound  would  be  spelt  in  English,  in  brackets 
beside  it.  As,  however,  there  is  no  English  equivalent  for 
the  French  sounds  of  u.  un,  on,  an,  and  in,  one  can  only  aim 
at  getting  near  them.  If  possible,  a  student  having  no 
French  teacher  should  ask  the  nearest  Frenchman  to  give 
liim  those  sounds,  and  the  rest  are  comparatively  easy. 

French  u  has  no  corresponding  sound  in  English.  It  ia 
most  like  eu,  very  soft,  and  sounded  with  lips  rounded,  as  if 
to  whistle.  This  U  sound,  will  be  designated  in  brackets  thus 
(it)  There  is  a  Scotch  equivalent  sound  in  the  word  ''guidJ* 
E's  are  rolled  also  in  the  Scotch  manner.  (Do  not,  however, 
roll  the  r's  which  are  put  only  for  help  into  the  English 
spelling  in  brackets  unless  they  are  in  French  word  also.) 
N  or  M  at  the  end  of  a  word  or  syllable  (both  having  the 
same  sound  in  French)  is  the  sound  most  sinned  against  by- 
English  learners.  '*l/o7?,"'*nom,"should  never  be  pronounced 
with  the  whole  n  sound  at  the  end.  TKe  best  description 
is  that  one  begins  to  say  the  N  as  in  English,  and  leaves 
the  letter  off  in  the  middle— cuts  off  the  last  part,  and  makes 
it  nasal  witii  a  lift  of  the  breath.  In  many  books,  that  sound 
is  written  as  "ng",  and  has  been  the  cause  of  much  mis- 
pronunciation. I  prefer  to  spell  it  with  an  h  after  the  n  or  m^ 
»s  mon  (monh),  nom  (nomh),  ton  (bonh),  and  it  will  thua 
be  designated  in  this  feook. 


6  SOLDIERS'    SPOKEN    FRENCH 

The  pronunciation  of  gn  is  hard  to  spell  in  English,  as 
there  is  no  equivalent.  One  is,  however,  familiar  with  the 
n  in  Spanish  ' '  senora, ' '  which  has  a  sound  identical  with  gn 
in  French,  i.e.,  ''gagner.''  The  g  is  not  sounded  at  all,  but 
a  turn  is  given  to  the  "n." 
The  vowels  in  French  are — 
A,  pronounced  (a?i)  sometimes  long,  sometimes  short. 

E,  unaccented  (er) 

E,  accented,  as  e,  k,  e,     {ay) 
I.  Y  {ee) 

O  (o) 

XT  (it)   as  previously  explained. 

The  remainder  of  the  letters  are  called  consonants. 
Accent  is  much  more  regularly  balanced  in  French  words 
than  in  English.     On  the  whole,  if  the  beginner  learns  to 
put  the  same  stress  on  each  syllable  he  does  not  go  far  wrong. 

The  in  French  is  called  an  Article,  and  has  three  forms: 
Masculine,  singular.      Feminine,  singular.  Plural. 

Le    (ler)  la    (lar)  les  (lay) 

A  vowel  or  a  mute  h  at  the  beginning  of  a  word  has  great 
importance,  inasmuch  as  it  changes  the  article  in  the 
singular  from  le  or  la  into  T,  as  Tarbre  (larhr)  =  the  tree. 

This  leaving  out  of  a  letter  and  putting  in  an  apostrophe 
(')  is  called  elision,  and  is  extensively  found  in  French. 

H  is  never  sounded  in  French.     The  so-called  h  aspirate 
merely  prevents  the  linking  of  w^ords. 
L'homme  (lomm)  h.  mute  =  the  man. 
Le  hero  (ler-airo)  h  (so-called)  aspirate  =  the  hero. 
There   arc   only   two   genders.   Masculine   and   Peminine, 
(hereafter  written  7n.  and  /.)  and  no  Neuter. 

Inanimate  objects  are  thus  spoken  of  as  Jie  and  she,  as 
there  is  no  neuter  word  it 


soldiers'    spoken    niENCH  « 

When  the  word  le  comes  before  a  noun  you  know  the 
noun  is  masculine. 

When  la  comes  before  a  noun  the  noun  is  feminine. 

The  plural  has  the  same  word  for  both  genders,  les  (lay). 

Le  livre,  m.  (leavr)  -  the  book. 

La  table,  f.  (tarhl)  =  the  table. 

L'arbre,  m.  (Varhr)  -  the  tree. 

Les  livres  {leavr')  -  the  books. 

Les  tables  (tarbl)  =  the  tables. 

Les  arbres  (lays-arhr)  =  the  trees. 

K.B.  S  at  the  end  of  a  plural  word  is  not  usually  sounded.  By  ear. 
livre  and  livres  have  the  same  sound.  The  difference  between  singular 
and  plural  is  shown  by  the  article.  Singular,  la  table  (kir  tarbl) ;  Plural, 
les  tables  {lay  tarbl). 

There  are  three  accents;  acute,  as  e;  grave,  as  b;  and 
circumflex,  as  e. 

Unless  a  word  ends  in  e  (with  an  accent  on  it)  the  final  e 
Is  not  sounded;  e.g.  encre  (onJcr)  =  ink. 

The  nouns  already  given  above  all  end  in  e  mute. 

Although  the  pronunciation  of  French  written  words  is 
very  puzzling  to  English  ears  at  first,  the  French  language 
follows  regulations  much  more  systematically  than  English. 
Thus,  if  certain  rules  of  pronunciation  are  learnt  at  the 
outset,  the  student  will  find  that  most  words  follow  those 
rules. 

Au  and  Eau  are  like  English  O 

Er  at  end  of  a  word  is  ay,  as    plancher     (plonhshay)    s 

floor. 

Oi  =  wa,  as  noir  (nwar)  =  black. 

J.  and  soft  G.  =  zh,  like  z  in  Eng.  word  *' azure.*' 

len  or  iens  =  ee-enh,  as  in  bien,  combien, 

viens,  tiena, 


8  SOLDIERS'    SPOKEN    FRENCH 

A  consonant  at  the  end  of  a  word  is  not  usually  sounded 
(excepting  C,  T,  and  L.  and  sometimes  R) ;  as  marchand,  m. 
(marshonh)  =  shopkeeper. 

But  wh'en  an.  e  mute  occurs  at  the  end  of  a  word  the  last 
consonant  is  then  sounded,  as  marcliande,  f.  {marslionhd)  - 
shopkeeper. 

Be  sure  to  remember  that  the  italicised  words  in  brackets 
are  to  be  pronounced  in  the  English  spelling,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  n,  m,  and  u,  the  pronunciation  of  which  has  already 
been  explained. 

Sentences  to  Learn. 

Bonjour  (honhzlioor)  =  good  morning,  good  day. 

Comment  allez-vous?  {komonht allay  vox))  =  how  are  you? 

Tr^s  bien  merci  {tray  hienh  mairsee)  =  very  well  thank  you. 

Et  vous?  {ay  voo)  =  and  you? 

Monsieur  {m'syeur)  =  Sir,  Mr. 

Madame  {madamm)  =  Mada.m,  Mrs. 

Oui  {week)  =  yes. 

Non  {norih)  -  no. 

Je  suis  Anglais  {zher  siveezonhglay)  =  I  am  English. 

J^  suis  fatigue  {zher  sxoee  fat-ee-gay)  =  I  am  tired. 

Donnez-moi  {donnay  mwar)  =  give  me. 

S'il  vous  plait  {seel  voo  play)  =  if  you  please,  please. 

Merci  {mairsee)  =  thank  you,  thanks. 

Du  pain  {dil  panh)  -  some  bread. 

De  la  "viande  {der  la  veonfid)  =  some  meat. 

Des  biscuits  {day  iissJcWee)  =  some  biscuits. 

De  I'eau  {der  lo)  -  some  water. 

Voici  {vwarsee)  =  here  is,  here  are.  * 


SOLDIERS*    SPOKEN    FRENCH 

Exercise  1.   (To  read  or  hear  spoken). 

1.  Bonjour,  Madame,  comment  allez-vous? 
(Bonhzhoor,  madamm,  komonhtallay  voo) 

2.  Tres  bien,  merci,  monsieur,  et  vous? 
(Tray  hienli,  mairsee,  m'syeur,  ay  voo) 

8.  Je  suis  fatigue,  madame. 
(Zher  sicee  fat-ee-gay,  madamm). 

4.  Donnez-moi  du  pain,  s'il  vous  plait. 
(Donnay  mwar  dii  panh,  seel  voo  play). 

5.  Voici  du  pain,  monsieur. 
(Vivarsee  dii  panh,  m'syeur), 

6.  Merci,  madame. 
(Mairsee,  madamm) . 

7.  Voici  de  la  viande,  monsieur. 
(Vwarsee  der  lar  veonJid,  m'syeur)^ 

S.  Oui,  madame,  merci. 

(Week,  madamm,  mairsee). 

9.  Au  revoir,  monsieur. 
(O  rev  war,  m'syeur). 

La  lettre  (lettr)  =  the  letter. 
La  porte  (iwrt)  =  the  door. 
La  chambre  (shomhbr)  =  the  roonu' 
La  fenetre  (fenaytr)  =  the  window 
Le  plafond  (plafonh)  =  the  ceiling. 
Le  plancher  {plonhslimj)  =  the  floor. 
Le  store  (store)  =  the  blind. 
La  plume  (pliim)  =  the  pen. 
Le  rideau  (reedo)  =  the  curtain. 
La  table  (tarhl)  =  the  table. 
La  chaise  (shays)  =  the  chair. 
Le  bureau  (bUro)  =  the  desk. 


10  SOLDIERS'  SPOKEN  FRENCH 

ta  cliemin46  (shemeenay)  =  the  mantelpiece,  chimney. 

Le  feu  (fer)  =  the  fire. 

Le  charbon  (sharhonh)  =  the  coal. 

Le  l3ois  (bwar)  =  the  wood. 

La  maison  (mayzonh)  =  the  house. 

Le  mur  (miir)  =  the  wall. 

L'encrier  {lonKkre-ay)  ='the  inkstand. 

L'encre  (lonkr)  =  the  ink.. 

Et  (a)  =  and. 

Montrez-moi  {monhtray  mwar)  =.  show  me. 

Voila  (vwarlar)  -  there  is. 

Siir  {silr)  -  on,  upon. 

Bans  {donh)  =  in. 

Conversation. 
(To  be  tried  without  the  book.) 
Question:  Montrez-moi  la  porte. 
Answer:  Voici  la  porte. 
Question:  Montrez-moi  le  mur. 

Answer:  Voil^  le  mur.     (And  so  on,  through  all  the  words 
in  the  vocabulary,  while  pointing  to  objects  in  the  room). 
_^K.B.    It  is  impossible  to  repeat  words  and  pbrases  too  often. 

Exercise  2. 

Write  down  or  speak  all  the  words  in  the  Vocabulary 
from  dictation  or  from  memory,  putting  them  into  the  plural. 
The  article  must  be  made  plural,  and  the  nouns  are  made 
plural  by  the  addition  of  s,  as  in  English,  except  rideau, 
"bureau,  and  feu,  which  take  x. 

The  s  of  the  plural  is  not  usually  sounded,  as  les  murs 
{lay  miir). 


SOLDIERS'    SPOKEN    FRENCH  11 

When,  however,  one  word  ends  in  a  consonant,  and  tiie 
following  word  begins  with  a  vowel,  the  last  consonant 
sound  is  linked  on  to  the  following  vowel,  and  that  con- 
sonant is  then  sounded.    Vous  avez  (voozavvay)  =  you  have. 

This  is  especially  the  case  with  words  which  belong  to 
each  other,  with  no  lift  of  the  breath  between. 

Comment  allez-vouz?  {komont allay  voo)  =  How  are  you? 

Les  encriers  (laysonkreay)  =  the  inkstands. 

An  exception  to  this  rule  is  the  word  et  (a)  =  and, 
of  which  the  t  is  never  under  any  circumstances,  sounded. 

II  y  a  (eel  ee  ar)  -  There  i^  there  are. 

N.B.     *'  Voili  "  is  used  for  *'  there  is  "  when  one  can  point  at  the  object. 
"  II  y  a  "  can  be  used  wherever  the  object  is,  visible  or  invisible. 


LESSON   II. 
Sentences  to   be   Learnt. 
Messieurs   [messy err)   -  gentlemen,  Messrs. 
Bonsoir  (bonhsivar)  =  good  evening. 

Je  ne  me  iwrte  pas  tres  bien  (zher  ner  mer  port  par  tray 
bienh)  =  I  am  not  very  well. 

C'est  dommage  (say  dommarzlie)  -  That  is  a  pity 
Apportes-moi   (apportay  mwar)  =  Bring  me. 
Depecliez-vous  (daypayshay  voo)  =  Make  haste. 
Pouvez-vous?   (poovay  voo)   =  Can  you? 
Certainement  (sairtaynmenh)  =  Certainly. 
Venez  ici  (vennay  zeesee)  =  Come  here. 
All8z-vous-en  (allay  voo  zanh)  =  go  away. 
Un,  m.  (ernh)  =  a,  an^  one. 
Une,  f,   (iln)   =  a,  an,  one. 
Des,  pi  (day)  =  somg. 


12  SOLDIERS*  SPOKEN  FRENCH 

Exercise  3.     (To  read  and  hear  spoken).^ 

1.  Bonsoir,  monsieur,  comment  allez-vous? 

2.  Tres  bien,  merci,  madame,  et  vous? 

3.  Je  ne  me  porte  pas  tr^s  bi^n. 

4.  C'est  dommage. 

5.  Donnez-moi  de  I'eau,  s'il  vous  plait. 

6.  Voici  de  I'eau,  monsieur,  et  voici  du  pain. 

7.  Merci,  madame. 

8.  Apportez-moi  de  I'eau,  s'il  vouo  plait. 

9.  Certain ement,  monsieur.     Venez  ici,  s'il  vous  plait. 
10.  Apportez-moi  de  la  viandc,  et  allez-vous-en. 

Two  students  can  repeat  the  above  sentences  to  one 
another  alternately.  There  is  nothing  better  than  frequent 
repetition,  and  the  teacher  or  the  pupils  can  make  up  fresh 
sentences  from  the  foregoing  ones,  and  from  other  nouns 
learnt. 

ADJECTIVES. 

Adjectives,  like  the  articles  le  and  un,  have  a  masculine 
and  feminine  form.  The  masculine  is  used  with  a  masculine 
noun,  and  the  feminine  is  used  with  a  feminine  noun, 
becoming  also  plural  with  the  noun.  This  is  called  making 
adjectives  agree  with  their  nouns. 

The  feminine  of  adjectives  is  usually  made  by  adding  e 
to  the  masculine  form. 

Mauvais,  m.  (jnovvay),  mauvaise,  /.  (movvayze)  =  bad. 

Noir,  m.  (nwar),  noire,  /.  {nwiir)  =  black. 

Bleu,  e  (hler)  =  blue. 

Brun,  e  (hrunh,  hriin)  =  browii. 

Froid  (frwar),  froide  frward)  -  cold. 

Ciaud,  e  {show,  shoioed)  ^  warm,  hot. 


SOLDIERS*    SPOKEN   FRENCH  13 

Grand,  e  (gronh,  grond)  =  great,  tall,  large. 
Petit,  e  (pertee,  perteet)  =  small,  little. 
Fort,  e  (for,  fort)  =  strong. 
Mort,  e  (mor,  mort)  =  dead,  deceased. 
Vert,  6  (vair,  vairt)  =  green. 
Vrai,  e  (vray)  =  true,  real. 
Plein,  e  (planh,  plain)  =  full. 

Chaud,    froid,    fort,    mort,    and    adjectives    of    colour 
and  nationality  follow  the  noun,  as 
le  store  vert  =  the  green  blind. 

ConversatioxL 
J'ai  (shay)  =  I  have. 
H  a  (eel  ar)  =  he  has. 
Elle  a  (ell  ar)  =  she  has. 
Pense  a  (ponhsay  ar)  =  thought  of. 
Quelque  chose  (kelTcershows)  =  something. 
Est-ce"?  (ayce)  =  is  it? 
Ce  n'est  pas  (ser  nay  par)  =  It  is  not. 
C'est  (say)  =  It  is. 
n  est  (eel  ay)  :=  he  is. 
Elle  est  (ell  ay)  =  she  is. 

Exercise  4. 

To  be  spoken  amongst  two  or  more  students,  A.  and   B- 

or  A.,  B.,  C.  and  D.,  etc 

A.  J'ai  pens6  a  quelque  chose. 

B.  Est-ce  la  porte? 

A.  Non,  ce  n'est  pas  la  porte. 

C.  Est-ce  la  maison? 

A.  Non,  ce  n'est  pas  la  maison. 

D.  Est-ce  le  bureau? 


14  SOLDIERS'  SPOKEN  FRENCH 

A.  Non,  ce  n'est  pas  le  bureau. 

E.  Est-ce  la  plume? 

A.  Non,  ce  n'est  pas  la  plume. 

And  so  on,  mentioning  all  the  names  they  know,  of  objects  in 
the  room  until  the  right  word  is  obtained,  then 

F.  Est-ce  I'encre? 

A.  Oui,  c'est  I'encre. 

Also,  a  word  can  be  written  on  a  .piece  of  paper  and 
folded  up,  and  A.  or  B.  says — 

J'ai  ecrit  (ayl-rce)  quelque  chose. 
C.  Est-ce  la  cheminee?  etc.  etc. 
This  is  a  splendid  exercise  in  speaking. 
Ecrit  =  written. 

Reading  Exercise  5. 
I.  J'ai  une  grande  porte.  2.  Tl  a  une  petite  maison. 
3.  Elle  a  un  plein  jardin.  4.  Ce  n  'est  pas  une  petite  f enetre. 
5.  C'est  un  store  vert.  6.  Le  bureau  est  plein.  7.  La 
cheminee  est  chaude.  8.  Voila  I'encrier  noir.  9.  Voici  le 
vrai  marchand.     10.  Montrez-moi  la  grande  maison. 

Exercise  6,  to  speak  or  write. 

1,  Show  me  the  green  blind.  2.  I  have  thought  of  the 
little  windov/.  3.  Is  it  a  warm  chimney?  4.  Yes,  it  (she)  is 
■warm.  5.  Here  is  the  little  desk.  6.  There  is  the  big  blind. 
7.  It  is  not  the  big  garden.  8.  I  have  thought  of  the  warm 
room.    9.  I  have  the  blue  ink.    10.  Who  has  the  small  garden? 

When  "vous  avez"  (voozavvay)  is  turned  round  to 
avez-vous?  (avvay-voo)  =  have  you?  the  s  of  vous  no  longer- 
needs  to  be  sounded,  unless  again  followed  by  a  vowel, 

Avez-vous  les  livres?  (avvay-voo  lay  leavr)^' 

Avez-vous  uu  liVJ:e?  {away'VOGsuiih  leavr),. 


•SOLDIERS'    SPOKEN   FRENCH  15 

Sentences  to  he  Learnt. 

Je  SUis  (sher  swee)  =  I  am. 

Savez-vcus?  (saway-voo)  =  do  you  know? 

Combien  de  (komhienlt)  =  how  many? 

J'ai  froid  (zhay  frwar)  -  I  am  cold. 

J'ai  chaud  {shay  show)  =  I  am  warm. 

J'ai  faim  {zhay  fainh)  =  I  am  hungiy, 

J'ai  soif  (swarf)  =  I  am  thirsty. 

J'ai  does  not  mean  I  am,  but  I  have.  In  French  they 
say  "I  have  cold,"  "I  have  warmth,"  "1  have  hunger," 
etc. 

Dites-lui  de  venir  (deet  twee  der  veneer)  -  Tell  him  to 
come. 

Ou  allcz-vous?  {oo  allay  voo)  -  Where  are  you  going? 

Je  vais  a  la  ville  {zher  vayzar  lar  veel)  =  I  am  going  to  the 
town. 

Ou  est  la  ville?  (oo  a  lar  veel)  =  Where  is  the  town? 

Par  la  (par  lar)  =  over  there. 

Mais  (may)  =  but. 

Ouvert,  e  (oovair,  oovairt)  =  open. 

Fenne,  e  (fairmay)  =  shut. 

Le  jardin  (zhardinh)  =  garden. 

Le  champ  (shanh)  =  field. 

PKESENT  TENSE  OF  VEKB  AVOIR  (AVVWAE)  =  TO 
HAVE. 
J'ai    (zhay)   -  I  have. 
Tu  as  (tii  ar)  =  Thou  hast. 
II  a  (eel  ar)  =  He  has. 
Elle  a  (ell  ar)  -  She  has. 
Nous  avons  (noozavvonh)  =  We  have. 
Vous  avez  (voosavvay)  =  You  have. 


16  soldiers'    spoken    FRENCH 

Us  ont  (eelzonh)  =  They  have. 
EUes  ont  {ellzonh) )  =  They  have,  f . 

Exercise  7. 
1.  J'ai  une  grande  fenetre  et  une  petite  porte.  2.  II  a 
faim  et  elle  a  soif.  3.  J'ai  froid  et  j'ai  faim.  4.  II  a  soif 
et  elle  a  chaud.  5.  Avez-vous  un  encrier  noir?  6.  Non,  j'ai 
une  table  brune.  7.  Je  suis  dans  le  jardin.  8.  La  porte  est 
ouverte  et  la  fenetre  est  ferm^e. 

Exercise  8. 
Conversation  betvs^een  two  or  more  students. 

A.  Avez-vous  froid? 

B.  Non,  j'ai  chaud. 

A.  Avons-nous  faim? 

B.  Non,  nous  avons  soif. 

A.  Avez-vous  soif? 

B.  Non,  j'ai  faim;  and  so  on. 

VERB  ETRE  {AITR)  =  TO  BE. 
Present  Tense. 
Je  suis  {zTier  swee)  -  I  am. 
Tu  es  {til  a)  =  Thou  art 
II  est  {eel  a)  =  He  is. 
Nous  sommes  {noo  somm)  =  We  are. 
Vdus  etes  (voozait)  =  You  arc. 
lis  sont  {eel  sonh)  =  They  are. 

Devant  {devvanh)  =  before,  in  front  of. 

Exercise  9. 
1.  Je  suis  ici.     2.  Nous  sommes  grands.     3.  II  est  petit. 
4.  Elle  est  petite.  5.  Vous  etes  ici.    6.  Us  sont  bleus.   7.  Elles 
sont  froides.     8.  Vous  etes  dans  le  champ  et  nous  sommes 
dans  le  jardin.    9.  Us  sont  devant  la  chemin^e  chaude., 


SOLDIERS '    SPOKEN    FEENCH  17 

LESSON  III, 

Verbs, 
To  commence,  the  exercise  "J'ai  pense  i  quelqne  chose'* 

of  Lesson  11.  should  be  frequently  repeated,  mth  additional 
words  learnt  subsequently.  The  student  should  become  able 
to  speak  the  sentences  without  a  moment's  hesitation. 

In  asking  questions  with  verbs,  the  verb  and  pronoun 
are  reversed,  as  in  English. 

Ai-je  (ayzhe)  =  have  If 

As-tu?  (ar  tii)  -  hast  thou? 

A-t-il?  [orieel)  -  has  he?  (notice  the  t  inserted). 

A-t-elle?  (artell)  =  has  she? 

Avons-nous?  (avvonh  noo)  -  have  we? 

Avez-vous?  (avvay-voo)  =  have  you? 

Ont-ils?  (onhteel)  =  have  they? 

Ont-elles?  {onntell)'-  have  they,  f.t 

Vu  ivii)  -  seen. 

Exercise  10.  (To  read  or  speak.) 
1.  Ai-je  Tencrier?  2.  Oui,  vous  avez  I'encrier  et  la  plume. 
3.  A-t-il  vu  le  charbon?  4.  II  a  vu  le  charbon  et  le  bois. 
5.  Avons-nous  les  lettres?  6.  Les  lettres  et  les  iivres  sont 
sur  la  table.  7.  A-t-elle  vu  la  chaise?  8.  EUe  a  vu  la  chaise 
et  le  bureau  dans  la  chambre. 

Exercise  11.     (Spoken.) 
Practise  with  all  the  nouns  you  know: 
J*ai  la  maison. 
Tu  as  le  livre.  etc. 
Then— 

Ai-je  I'encrier? 
As-tu  le  bureau? 


18  SOLDIERS'    SPOKEN   FRENCH 

A-t-il  la  maison? 
Avons-nous  la  table? 
Avez-vous  les  livres? 
Ont-ils  les  rideaux?,  etc. 

The  negative  not  consists  of^  two  words,  ne  and  pasy 
ne  comes  before  the  verb,  and  becomes  n*  before  a  vowel, 
and  pas  is  placed  after  the  verb. 

Je  n'ai  pas  (isher  nay  par)  -  I  have  not. 

Tu  n'as  pas  {tu  nar  par)  zz  thou  has  not. 

H  n'a  pas  {eel  nar  par)  -  he  has  not. 

Nous  n'avons  pas  {noo  navvonh  par)  =  we  have  not. 

Vous  n'avez  pas  {voo  naway  par)  -  you  have  not. 

lis  n'ont  pas  {eel  nonh  par)  =  they  have  not. 

Also, 
N'ai-je  pas?  {nayje  par)  =  have  I  not? 
N*as-tu  pas?  {nartii  par)  =  hast  thou  not? 
N'a-t-il  pas?  {narteel  par)  -  iias  he  not? 
N'avons-nous  pas?  (navvonh  noo  par)  =  have  we  not? 
N' avez-vous  pas?  (naway  voo  par)  =  have  you  not? 
N'ont-ils  pas?  (nonhteel  par)  =  have  they  not? 

Exercise  12. 

1.  Avez-vous  le  charbon,  madame?  2.  Non,  je  n'ai  pas  le 
charbon,  monsieur,  mais  il  a  le  bois.  3.  A-t-il  pense  a  la 
chaise?  4.  Non,  mais  il  a  pense  a  la  fenetre.  5.  N'avons-- 
nous pas  I'encre  noire?  6.  Oui,  vous  avez  I'encre  et  I'encrier. 
7.  H  n'a  pas  faim  mais  il  a  soif.  8.  N 'avez-vous  pas  froid? 
9.  Non,  nous  n'avons  pas  froid,  nous  avons  chaud.  10.  N 'ont- 
ils  pas  pens^  a  quelquc  chose? 


SOLDIERS^    SPOKEN    FRENCH  19 

Exercise  13.    (Conversation.) 
Much  repetition  without  the  book  is  necessai^  here. 
Pirst  repeat — 

^'J'aiiaporte." 
<<Tu  as  la  maison,'*  etc.,  as  many  words  as  can  be 

remembered. 
Then — 

"Ai-je  l8  bureau?'* 
♦*As-tu  la  cheminee?'*,  etc. 
Then— 

"Je  n'ai  pas  la  table.*' 
•*Tu  n'as  pasle  bois,"  etc. 

Also — 

**N'ai-je  pas  le  store?"  etc. 
As  a  variation  an  adjective  can  be  put  into  each  sentence 
^s 

"J'ai  la  giande  porte." 

"Je  n'ai  pas  Tencrier  noir,**  etc. 

It  is  good  practice  for  the  student  to  find  his  own  words 
and  use  them  himself. 

Exercise  14. 

(By  teacher  or  student  without  book.) 
1.  .J'ai  une  grande  maison.  2.  II  a  un  encrier  noir. 
3.  Nous  avons  un  mur  bleu.  4.  Vous  n'avez  pas  un  jardin 
vert.  5.  Avez-vous  un  mur  chaud?  6.  Non,  je  n'ai  pas  un 
mur  chaud.  7.  J'ai  un  petit  jardin.  8.  A-t-il  un  encrier 
pleinf  9.  Nous  n 'avons  pas  une  porte  forte.  10.  Ont-ils  des 
cheminees  chaudesT 


20  SOLDIERS'    SPOKEN    FEENCH 

Sentences  to  Learn. 

J'ai  besoin  de  (zhay  beswanh  der)  =  I  want  (something). 

Parlez-vous  frangais?  (parlay-voo  fransay)  -  Do  you 
«peak  French.? 

Je  suis  malade  {zher  swee  malard)  -  I  am  ill. 

Je  suis  blesse  {zher  swee  hlessay)  -  I  am  wounded. 

Puis-je  passer  par-ici?  {piveezh  passay  pareesee)  -  May  I 
go  through  here? 

Puis-je  aller  par  la  {pweczh  allay  par  lar)  =  May  I  go  that 
way? 

n  faut  (eel  fo)  -  One  must  (I  must,  you  must,  etc.). 

A  droite  {ar  drwart)  =  on  the  right. 

A  gauche  {ar  gosch)  -  on  the  left. 

Tout  droit  {too  drwar)  =  straight  on. 

C'est  dommage  {say  dommarzlie)  =  it  is  a  pity. 

Et  puis  {ay  pioee)  «=  and  then. 

Pour  {poor)  -  for,  to,  in  order  to. 

Tres  {tray)  =  very. 

Ce,  m.  {ser)  =  this,  that. 

Cette,  /.  {sett)  =  this,  that. 

Ces  {say)  =  these,  those. 

Alors  {allor)  -  then. 

Que  voulez-vous?  {ker  voolay  voo)  =  What  do  you  want? 

Exercise  15.       (To  read  or  hear  spoken.) 

Bon  jour,  madame.  Bonjour,  monsieur,  comment  allez-vous? 
*Pas  tres  bien,  merci,  madame,  je  suis  fatigue,  et  j  'ai  f aim 
et  solf.  Alors  que  voulez-vous?  Voici  du  bon  pain,  et  de  la 
viande.  Donnez-moi  de  I'eau,  s'il  vous  plait.  Mais  certaine- 
ment,  voila  de  I'cau,  monsieur.  Merci  bien,  je  suis  malade. 
*  Pas  can  be  used  without  ne  when  there  is  no  verb. 


SOLDIERS'    SPOKEN'    FRENCH  21 

C'est  dommage,  venez  dans  la  maison.  *Merci,  puis-je  passer 
par  ici?  Non,  ailez  tout  droit.  Puis-je  aller  par  la? 
Certainement.    Au  revoir. 

*"Merci"  by  itself  means  "No,  thank  you,''  so  in 
accepting  anything,  one  has  to  say  "oui,  merci, "  or  "oui 
s*il  vous  plait." 

Exercise  16.     (Spoken). 

Mention  all  the  objects  in  the  room,  and  put  before  them 
the  words  ce,  cette,  or  ces,  as — 

Cette  lettre. 

Cette  porte. 

Ce  plafond. 

Ce  plancher,  etc. 

K.B.    Ce  "becomes  cet  before  a  masc   word  beginning  with  a  vowel  orb 
mute,  as 

Cet  encrier  (m,),  but 
Cette  encre  (encre  being  fern.). 
Other  words  which  change  before  a  vowel  or  h  mute  are 
the  adjectives  beau  {ho)  -  fine,  handsome;  nouveau  {noovo)  a 
new,    fresh;  mou    {moo)  -  soft,    and    vieux    {vee-er)  =  old. 
There  is  a  second  masc.  form  to  these  words  used  thus: — 
Beau  {bo)  bel  {del)  mas.      belle,  fem. 
^ouveau  {noovo)  nouvel  {noovel)  ra.     nouvelle,  f.  =  new. 
Mou  {moo)  mol  {moll)  m.    MoUe,  f.  =  soft. 
Vieux  {vee-er)  vieil  {vee-ay)  m.      vieille  {vee-ay)  f.  =  old. 
<^Le  bel  homme";  but  "rhomme  est  beau,"  etc. 

Cardinal  Numerals. 
Un,  line  {anJi,  iin)  =  one. 
Deux  {der)  =  two. 
Trois  {tTwar)  =  three. 


22  SOLDIERS'    SPOKEN   FRENCH 

Quatre  (Jcatr)  -  four. 
Cinq  (sairnk)  =  five. 
Six  (seess)  =  six. 
Sept  (sett)  -  seven. 
Huit  \weet)  -  eight. 
Neuf  {nerf)  =  nine. 
Dix  (deess)  -  ten. 

Exercise  17.     (Spoken). 

A.  Avez-vous  un  jardin? 

B.  Non,  mais  j'ai  deux  maisons,  etc. 

Suis-je?  (sweezh)  =  Am  I? 
Es-tu?  (a  tit)  =  art  thou? 
Est-il?  (ait  eel)  =  is  he? 
Sommes-nous?  (somm-noo)  =  Are  wet 
Etes-vcus?  (ait  voo)  =  are  you? 
Sont-ils?  (sonhteel)  =  are  they? 

Eepeat 
Je  ne  suis  pas,  etc.  =  I  am  not. 

Also, 
Ne  siiis-je  pas?  etc.  =  Am  I  not? 

Exercise  18. 
1  Suis-je  dans  un  jardin?  2.  Non,  vous  etes  dans  le 
champ.  3.  Etes  vous  Fran^ais?  4.  Non,  monsieur,  je  suis 
Anglais.  5.  N'etes-vous  pas  malade?  6.  Non,  madame, 
mais  je  suis  tres  fatigue.  7.  Alors  voici  de  la  bonne  viande 
et  du  bon  vin.  8.  Voiei  cinq  livres  et.  trois  plumes  9.  Ces 
encriers  ne  sont  pas  pleina  et  cette  encre  n'est  pas  noire. 


SOLDIERS'    SPOKEN    FRENCH 

LESSOxM  IV. 

La  guerre  (gair)  =  the  vrar. 

Le  crayon  (krayanh)  =  the  pencil. 

Le  papier  (pap-Tjay)  -  the  paper. 

Le  verre   {vair)  -  the  glass. 

La  tasse  (tass)  =  the  cup. 

L'assiette,  /.  (ass-yett)  -  the  plate. 

La  montre   (monlitr)  -  the  watch. 

L'ami  {ammee)  -  the  friend. 

Le  chiea  (shceanh)  =  the  dog. 

La  femme  (famm)  =  the  woman, 

Le  soldat  (soldar)  =  the  soldier. 

L'homme  (h  mute)  (lomm)  -  the  man. 

La  mitrailleuse  (mittrl-yerze)  =  The  machine-gun. 

Ou  (oo)  =  where? 

Ici  (eesee)  =  here. 

Avec   (avveh)  =  with. 

Votre  (voir)  =  your. 

Mot  (mwar)  =  me. 

Onze  (oarnhze)  -  eleven. 

Douze  (dooz)  -  twelve. 

Treize  (trays)  -  thirteen. 

*Quartorze  {Icatorz)  -  fourteeh. 

*Quiiize   {Jcai(r))iliz)  =  fifteen. 

"Qu  is  pronounced  like  English  k. 
Seize  (says)  =  sixteen. 
Dix-sept  (deessett)  =  seventeen. 
Bix-huit  (deez-weet)  =  eighteen. 
Dix-neuf  (deez-nerf)  =  nineteen, 
Vingt  (vinh)  =  twenty. 
Voici  la  dame  =  Here  is  the  lady. 
La  dame  est  ici  =  The  lady  is  here* 


24  SOIiDIEES*    SPOKEN   TRENCH 

Exercise  19.    (To  translate  orally.) 

1.  Where  is  the  gentleman?  2.  He  is  in  the  garden. 
3.  Where  is  the  lady?  4.  She  is  in  the  house.  5.  Where  is 
the  dog?  6.  The  dog  is  here.  7.  I  have  a  house  and  a  garden. 
8.  Here  is  the  gentleman  with  the  lady.  9.-  The  man  is  here 
with  the  woman.     10.  Where  is  he? 

Repeat  in  French— 

''Where  is  the  house?*' 
'*The  house  is  here. 
"Here  is  the  house/- 
And  so  on  with  every  noun  you  have  learnt. 

Also  repeat ' '  The  house  is  here  with  the  garden, ' '  and  sO 
on  with  every  two  words  you  have  learnt. 


Est-ce  {ayes)  =  is  it? 

Est-ce  que  c'est  {ayce-ker  say)  =:  is  it?  (lit.  is  it  that  it  is?) 

By  putting  * '  est-pe  q.ue ' '  before  a  statement  it  is  turned 
into  a  question;  as, 

J'al  =  I  have— est-ce  quej'ai?  =  have  I? 

Vous  avez  =  you  have — est-ce  que  vous  avez?  =  have  you? 
and  so  on  with  any  statement. 

Exetcise  20,  ^thout  l)ook. 

1.  Eepeat  the  Present  Tense  of  the  verb  to  have,  turning 
it  into  questions,  as  above. 

2.  Do  the  same  with  the  Present  Tense  of  to  be,  as 

Est-ce  que  je  suis?  =  Am  I? 
^3.  A.  Est-ce  que  je  suls  vieux? 
B.  Non,  vous  etes  jeune, 


SOLDIERS*    SPOKEN   FRENCH  25 

A.  Est-ce  que  vous  avez  du  pain? 

B.  Non,  j'ai  des  biscuits. 

A.  Est-ce  qu'il  a  vu  la  mitrailleuse  1 
And  so  on. 

Exercise  21. 
1.  The  dog  is  black.  2.  The  machine-guns  are  small. 
3.  I  have  seen  two  dogs,  and  that  gentleman  has  seen  three 
dogs.  4.  You  have  fifteen  chairs  in  your  room.  5.  Have  they 
a  brown  table?  6.  Is  it  here?  7.  Yes,  it  is  here  in  the  house. 
8.  There  are  seventeen  soldiers  in  that  house.  9.  Do  you 
know  where  are  the  five  books?  10.  Is  he  not  in  the  garden 
with  the  seven  soldiers? 

To  Learn. 

Mangeons  {manjizlionli)  Miletus  eat. 

Regardez  (rergarday)  -n  look  at. 

Meilleur,  e  {may-yeur)  -  better. 

Le  meme  (maim)  la  meme,  les  memes  =  the  same. 

Souvent  (soovenh)  =  often. 

Euvons  (biivonh)  =  let  us  drink. 

Exercise  22. 

1.  Nous  avous  faim,  mangeons  des  biscuits.  2.  Nous 
avons  soif,  buvons  de  I'eau.  3.  Venez  ici  et  regardez  cette 
jolie   m-aison.     4.  Le    pain     est    meilleur    que    les    biscuits, 

5.  Venez   ici    et    regardez    la    mitrailleuse;    depechez-vous. 

6.  Ou  sont  l6s  soldats  Anglais?  7.  lis  sont  a  la  guerre.  8.  H 
faut  aller  a  droite.  9.  Ces  maisons  sont  souvent  tr^s  jolies. 
10.  Neuf  assiettes  sont  souvent  sur  la  table. 


26  SOLDIERS*  SPOKEN  FRENCH 

Exercise  23.     (Spoken.) 

Mention  all  tlie  nouns  you  can  remember,   and   all  tlie 
adjectives  you  can  put  with  them,  thus: 

Ce  livre  est  souvent  sur  la  tal)le. 
Ces  rideaux  sont  souvent  tres  jolis. 

Ce  tableau  est  souvent ....,..,►»• 

Ces  murs 

Ces  f enetres 

Cette  table,  etc.,  etc. 

To  Learn. 

Tout  de  suite,  (toot  d'  sweet)  =  immediately,  at  once 
N'irnporte,  (namhport)  -  It  does  not  matter. 
Commencez,  Qcomonlisay)  =  begin. 
Tois,   (fivar)  =  time. 
Une  fois,  (wn  fwar)  =  once. 
Deux  fois,  =  twice. 

Trois  fois,  =  three  times. 

Dix  fois,  =  ten  times. 

And  so  on. 
Perdu  (pairdil)  =  lost. 
Le  regiment  {rezlieemonli)  =  regiment. 
Lieutenant  Qitrt'nonh)  -  lieutenant. 
Capitaine  Qcappeetain)  -  captain. 
Colonel  Qcolonel,  ail  syllables  sounded)  =  colonel. 
General  {zl\aynayral,  all  syllables  sounded)  =  general. 
*Combien  de  fois?  ('kom'bienh  de  fwar)  =  How  often? 
Le  dejeuner   (dayzhernay)  =  breakfast. 
Le  diner  (deenay)  =  dinner. 
Le  souper  (soopay)  =  supper. 
*  See  Pronunciation,  page  7, 


SOLDIERS*    SPOKEN    FRENCS  27 

Exercise  24. 
1.  Commencez  votre  dejeuner.  2.  J 'ai  perdu  ma  tasse. 
3.  X'importe,  voici  un  verre.  4.  Le  lieutenant  a  perdu  le 
regiment  deux  fois.  5.  Ou  est  le  dejeuner  aujourd'hui? 
6.  Perdu.  7.  C^est  dommage,  j 'ai  faim.  8.  N'importe,  voici 
le  diner  tout  de  suite.  9.  Mangeons  ces  biscuits  et  buvona 
Tjette  eau,  10.  Le  Colonel  et  le  General  sont  a  la  guerre. 
11.  Eegardez,  la  porta  est  fermee!  12.  N'importe,  la  fenetre 
est  ouverte. 


LESSON  V. 

All.  m.  (o);  a  la,  f.;  a  1';  aux,  pi.  (o)  =  to  the. 

Au  jardin  =  to  the  garden. 

A  la  dame  =  to  the  lady, 

A  r  homme  (ar  lomni)  =  to  the  man. 

Aux  femmes  =  to  the  women. 

Penser  (ponhsay)  =  to  think,  is  followed  by  a,  which 
really  means  to.  Thus  literally  '•' J'ai  pense  a  quelque  chose," 
means  **I  have  thought  to  something." 

J'ai  pense  a  la  dame  =  I  have  thought  of  the  lady. 

Tu  as  pense  au  jardin  =  Thou  hast  thought  of  the  garden. 

II  a  pense  a  I'homme  =  He  has  thought  of  the  man. 

Nous  avons  pense  aux  maisons  =  We  have  thought  of  tha 
houses. 

Exercise  25.     (To  Speak). 
To  the  door,  to  the  house,  to  the  wall,  to  the  garden,  to 
the  -window,  to  the  ceiling,  to  the  floor,  to  the  mantelpiece, 
to  the  soldiers,  to  the  trees,  to  the  towns,  to  the  rooms,  to 
the  doors,  to  the  gentlemen. 


28  SOLDIERS'  SPOKEN  FRENCH 

Exercise  26. 

Think  of  all  the  nouns  in  the  room,  and  speak  them  aloud, 
putting  au,  a  la,  a  r,  or  aux  before  them,  as  required. 

Then  think  of  any  other  nouns  that' you  have  learnt,  and 
do  likewise,  such  as 

"Au  pain,''  "a  la  maison,''  *'a  I'encrier, "  "aux 
hommes,''  "aux  fenetres.'' 

Dernier,  m.  {dairneay)  demiere  (dairneair)  =  last. 

Ma.ngez  (manhzhay)  =  Eat. 

Buvez  (huvay)  =  Drink. 

Vous  devez  (devay)  =  You  ought. 

En  Prance  (07ih  Franhss)  =  In  or  to  France. 

En  Angleterre  {onOngleriair)  =  In  or  to  England. 

II  est  parti  {eel  ay  partee)  =  He  has  departed,  gone. 

Quand?  (Iconh)  =  When? 

Deja  (dayzhar)  =  Already. 

Quoi?   (Icwar)  =  What? 

A  quoi  avez-vous  pense?    Of  what  have  you  thought? 

Sortir  {sorteer)  =  To  go  out. 

Exercise  27.     (To  Speak). 

A.  A  quoi  avez-vous  pense? 

B.  J'ai  pense  a  la  porte. 
A.  A  quoi  avez-vous  pense? 

B    J'ai  pense  au  plancher;  and  so  on  with  12  words. 

To  Learn. 
Aujourd'hui  {o-zlioor~dwee)  =  To-day. 
Demain  (dermanh)  =  To-morrow 
Hier  (ee-air)  =  Yesterday 
Savez-vous?  {savvey-voo)  =  Do  you  know?^ 


SOLDIERS*    SPOKEM    FRENCH  29 

Qui  va  la  Qcey  var  lar)  =  Who  goes  there? 

Quelle  heure  est-il  (kel  leur  aiteel)  -  What  time  is  it? 

II  est  une  heure  {eel  ait  iin  eur)  =  it  is  one  o'clock. 

II  est  deux  heures  et  demie  (eel  au  ders  eur  oy  d'mee)  = 
it  is  half-past  two. 

II  est  quatre  heures  moins  quart  (eel  ay  Tcatr  eur  moynh 
Tear)  =  it  is  a  quarter  to  three. 

II  est  quatre  heures  moins  vingt  (eel  ay  Jcatr  eur  moynh 
vernli)  -  it  is  twenty  minutes  to  four. 

II  est  cinq  heures  vingt  {eel  ay  sairnk  eur  vinh)  =  it  is 
twenty  past  five. 

II  est  midi  (eel  ay  meedee)  =  it  is  twelve  noon. 

n  est  minuit  (meenwee)  =  it  is  twelve  midnight. 

Exercise  28.  (Read  or  Speak). 
1.  Quelle  heure  est-il?  2.  II  est  neuf  heures.  3.  Quelle 
heure  est-il?  4.  II  est  dix  heures  et  demie.  5.  Quelle  heure 
est-il?  6.  II  est  onze  heures  moins  vingt.  7.  II  est  deux 
heures  moins  dix.  8.  II  est  trois  heures  dix  minutes.  9.  H 
est  une  heure.  10.  II  est  huit  heures  et  quart.  11.  II  est 
sept  heures  moins  quart.     3  2.  II  est  minuit. 

To  Learn. 
Cette  nuit  (sett  nwee)-  to-night. 
La  semaine  demiere  (sermayn  dairneair)  =  last  week. 
La  semaine  prochaine  (sermayn  proshayn)  =  Next  ri'cek. 
Une  annee  (a7\nay)  =  A  year. 
Un  mois  (mwar)  =  a  month. 
tine  semaine  (sermayn)  =  A  week. 
Un  jour  (zJioor)  =  A  day, 
Une  heure  (eur)  =  An  hour.. 


so  soldiers'   ;SP0KEN    FRENCH 

Janvier  {^honhveeay)  =;  JaiTuary. 

Pevrier  (fevreeay)  =  February. 

Mars  (viarss)  =  March. 

Avril  {avreel)  =  April. 

Mai  (7nay)  =  May. 

Juin  (zhwenli)  =  June. 

Juiilet  (zhii-yay)  =  July 

Aout  (oo)  =  August. 

Septembre  {seytonhlr)  =  September. 

October  (ohtdhr)  =  October. 

Novembre  {novonlihr)  -  November. 

Decembre  {daysonlibr)  =  December. 

Premier  (premmeay)  premiere,  (premmeair)  =  JPirst. 

Je  suis  perdu  {pairdii)  =  I  am  lost. 

Qui  etes-vous?  {Icey  ait  voo)  =  Who  are  you? 

Je  suis  Anglais  {Onglay)  =  I  am  English. 

Etes-vous  Prancais?  (Fronhsay)  =  Are  you  French? 

Nous  sommes  Allies  (alleeay)  =  We  are  Allies. 

I»e  regiment  {re^lieemonh)  -  The  regiment. 

Exercise  29. 

1.  Quelle  heure  est-il?  2.  II  est  huit  heures.  3.  H  est 
eept  heures  et  demie.  4.  Non,  il  est  deja  huit  heures  moins 
quart.  5.  Qui  etes-vous?  6.  Je  suis  Anglais  et  je  suis  perdu. 
7.  Alors  venez  ici  et  passez  par  la.  8.  Savez-vous  cu  voug 
§tes?  Je  suis  avec  des  amis.  9.  C'est  vrai,  comment  allez- 
vous?  10.  Avez-vous  faim  et  soif?  11.  Non,  mais  je  suis 
fatigue.  12.  Depechez-vous  et  apportez-moi  la  viande,  les 
(Euf s,  le  pain  et  le  lait,  s  'il  vous  plait. 

Du,  m.  {du) ;  de  la,  f .  {der  lar) ;  de  P,  and  des,  pi.  (day)  = 
Some. 

Du  pain  =  Some  bread. 


SOLDIERS '    SPOKEN   PEENCH  31 

Da  la  vlande  =  Some  meat.  Le  sel  (sell)  =  Salt. 

De  reau  =  Some  water.  Le  poivre  (pwarvr)  =  Pepper. 

Des  (Bufs  =  Some  eggs.  La  moutarde  (mootard) 
Ls  lait  (lay)  =  Milk.  =  Mustard, 

Le  Sucre  (silkr)  -  Sugar.  La  pomme  de  terre  =  Potato. 

Le  Tin  (vanh)  =  Wine.  Le  poissoa  (pwarsorih) 
L'oeuf  (erf)  =  Egg.  =  The  fish. 

Lss  (BUfs  (laiz-er)  -  Eggs  Le  miel  (m'yell)  =  honey. 

(f  not  sounded  in  plur.).  Les  fraises  (frayse^  =  straw- 
Le  cafe  (haffay)  =  Coffee.  berries. 

Lo  the  (tay)  -  Tea.  Les  groseilles  (grow-zay)  = 
Le  beurre  (burr)  =  Butter,  currants  or  gooseberries, 

Esercise  30.    (rrom  Memory). 

Some  bread,  some  milk,  some  sugar,  some  water,  some 
vine,  some  meat,  some  eggs,  some  coffee,  some  tea,  some 
butter,  .some  men,  some  dogs,  some  machine  guns,  some 
soldiers,  some  ink,  some  windows.  And  so  on  with  all  the 
nouns  70U  can  remember 

Du,  de  la,  des,  also  mean  "of  the.'* 

Du  jardin  =  Of  the  garden. 

De  I'ami  =  Of  the  friend. 

DcB  hommes  =  Of  the  men. 

De  la  femme  =  Of  the  woman. 

These  words  form  the  possessive  case  in  French,  as 

Le  livre  de  la  dame  =  The  lady's  hook  (lit.  the  book  of 
the  lady). 

Le  chien  du  monsieur  =  The  gentleman's  dog 

La  femme  de  raiiii  =  The  friend's  wife. 

Les  maisons  des  hommes  =  The  men's  houses. 

Pour  aller  (poor  allay)  =  In  order  to  go. 


32  SOLDIERS'  SPOKEN  FRENCH 

Exercise  31.    (To  Translate  and  Hear). 

Bonjour,  mon  ami.*  Asseyez-vous  ici.  Comment  allez-vousf 
Tres  bien  merci,  mon  cher,  et  vous?  Je  suis  malade.  C'est 
dommage.  Est-ce  que  vous  avez  faim?  Non,  mais  donnez^ 
moi  du  vin,  s'il  vous  plait.  Certainement,  vous  avez  soif, 
n 'est-ce  pas?  Voici  du  bon  vin.  Merci.  Venez  ici,  mon  ami, 
et  asseyez-vous  1^.  Voila  deux  soldats  anglais.  lis  sont 
blesses.  Savez-vous  combien  de  soldats  sont  blesses?  Je  ne 
sais  pas.  Voila  Smith.  Dites-lui  de  venir  ici.  H  va  deja  a 
la  ville.  Elle  est  par  la.  Puis-je  passer  par  ici?  Certaine- 
ment,  allez  a  gauche,  et  puis,  a  droite.  II  f aut  passer  par  ici 
pour  aller  a  la  ville. 

*"  Mon  ami"  or  "mon  vieux"  stands  for  tho  familiar  '  old  man  "  ioi 
which  friends  address  each  other  in  Knglish. 


LESSON  VI. 
To  Learn. 

Beaucoup  de  (bokoo  dcr)  -  Much,  many. 

Plus  de  {'plii  der)  =  More. 

Assez  de  (assay  der)  =  Enough. 

Trop  de  (tro  der)  =  Too  many,  too  much. 

Sur  (siir)  On,  upon. 

PEESENT  TENSES  of 
1.  Voir  (vwar)  =  To  see. 
Je  vols  (vwa)  =  I  see. 
Nous  voyons  (vicoijonh)  =  We  see. 
Vous  voyez  (vwoyay)  -  You  see. 

2.  Donner    (donnay)   =  to  give. 
Je  donne  (donn)  =  I  give. 
Nous  donnons  (donnonh)  =  We  give. 
Vous  donnez  {donnay)  =  You  give. 


SOLDIERS*    SPOKEN   PRENCff  33 

3.  Dire  (deer)  =  to  say. 

Je  dls  (dee)  =  I  say. 

Nous  disons  {deezonh)  =  we  say. 

Vous  dites  {deet)  -  you  say. 

lis  dis(ent)   {dees)  -  they  say. 

(The  ent  of  the  3rd  person,  pi.  of  verbs  is  not  sounded, 
as  in  ''Hs  dis(ent)'\) 

Where  the  other  persons  of  the  verbs  are  not  given,  in 
the  above  tenses,  they  are  sounded,  though  not  syelt  the  same 
8s  the  first  person. 

4.  Venir  {vernieer)  =  to  come. 
Je  viens*  (vienh)  =  I  come. 

Nous  venons  (vennonh)  =  we  come. 
Vous  venez  {vennay)  -  you  come, 
lis  viennent  (vienn)  =  they  come. 

5.  Parler  (parlay)  =  to  speak. 
Je  parle  (pari)  -  I  speak. 

Nous  parlons  (parlonh)  =  we  speak. 
Vous  parlez  (parlay)  -  you  speak. 

N'est-cG-pas?  (nayce  par)  -  Don't  you?  Isn't  it?    Are  ther^ 
not?    Has  he  not?  etc.,  etc. 

This  phrase  is  used  as  a  question  after  any  affirmative 
sentence,  as 

"lis  disent,  n*est-ce  pas?"  =  They  say,  do  they  not? 

"Je  viens,  n'est-ce  pas?"  =  I  am  coming,  am  I  not? 

"n  est  la,  n'est  ce  pas?"  =  He  is  there,  is  he  not? 

"Vous  voyez  rhomme,  n'est-ce  pas?"  =  You  see  the  man^ 
do  you  not? 

•  See  Pronunciation,  page  7,  O 


84  soldiers'  spoken  French 

Voyez-vous?  =  Do  you  see?     (There  is  no  word  for  **do'' 
in  French,  and  "voyez-vous"  means  literally  "see  you?" 
Aimez-vous?   (aymay-voo)  =  Do  you  like,  or  love? 
Savez-vous?  (savvay-voo)  =  Do     you  know? 
Croyez-vous?  {Icroyyay-voo)  =  Do  you  think? 

Exercise  32.  (Prom  Memory). 
1.  Good  morning,  old  man,  how  are  you?  2.  Very  well, 
thank  you.  3.  Do  you  know  where  is  the  bread?  4.  No, 
but  here  is  the  meat.  5.  What  time  is  it?  6.  It  is  four 
o  'clock.  7.  I  am  hungry  and  cold.  8.  I  am  thirsty,  give  me 
some  water.  9.  I  am  English,  and  you  are  French.  10.  We 
are  Allies.  11.  Here  are  some  coffee,  my  friend,  some  milk, 
and  some  sugar.    12.  Give  me  also  some  eggs  if  you  please. 

13.  Get  up  and  see  the  good     coffee     and  the  good     milk. 

14.  Have  you  any  tea?    15.  Yes,  there  are  tea,  coffee,  wine, 
and  meat  in  the  house. 

Exercise  33.    (Conversation,  to  Eepeat  Quickly). 

A.  You  are  hungry,  are  you  not?  {ji'est-ce  pas'i) 

B.  You  are  thirsty,  are  you  not? 

C.  You  are  cold,  are  you  not? 

D.  You  are  warm,  are  you  not? 

A.  He  is  hungry,  is  he  not?  {n*est-ce  pa$^) 

B.  He  is  thirsty,  is  he  not? 
Ci  He  is  cold,  is  he  not? 
D.  He  is  warm,  is  he  not? 

A.  Is  he  hungry?  {a-t-il  faiml) 

B.  Is  he  thirsty? 

C.  Is  he  cold? 
3).  Is  he  warm? 


SOLDIERS'    SPOKEN    FRENCH  35 

A.  He  is  not  hungry  (II  n'a  pas,  etc.) 

B.  He  is  not  thirsty. 

C.  He  is  not  cold. 

D.  He  is  not  warm. 

In  like  manner,  "Are  you  hungry,  thirsty,  cold,  warmf 

We  are  hungry,  are  we  not?,  etc. 

They  are  hungry,  arc  they  not?,  etc.,  and  so  on. 

n  y  a  (eel  ee  ar)  -  There  is,  (or  are). 

Hn'y  a  pas  de  (eel  nee  ar  par  der)  =  There  is,  (or  are)  not. 

Levez-vous  (levvay-voo)  =  get  up. 
Asseyez-vous  (assayay  voo)  =  sit  down. 

Exercise  34. 

Eepeat   all  the   words  in  Lesson  V.   from   ''bread''  to 

"butter,"  with  "il  y  a,"  and  -'il  n'y  a  pas  de,"  as 

II  y  a  du  pain. 

H  n'y  a  pas  de  pain,"  and  so  on. 

Eepeat  with  "il  y  a"  and  the  numerals  from  1  to  20 

all  the  nouns  you  can  remember.    Also  the  same  with  "il  n'y 

a  pas  de." 

As  "II  y  a  deux  maisons." 

*'I1  y  a  trois  portcs, "  etc. 

"II  n'y  a  pas  quatre  murs." 

"II  n'y  a  pas  cinq  encriers, "  etc. 

N.B.    Note:  "II  n'y  a  pas  de  murs."    But  "II  u'y  a  pas  quatre  murs 
vrithout  de,  because  of  the  numeral). 

REPETITION  FEOM  LESSON  1. 

Without  the  book,  pick  out  all  the  articles  in  the  room  of 
which  you  know  the  names.  With  your  teacher  or  fellow- 
student  converse  in  this  way:: — 

A.  J'ai  pens4  ^  qnel^ue  chose. 


%Q  SOLDIERS'    SPOKEN   FRENCH 

B.  Est-ce  dans  la  chambre? 

A.  Oui,  c'est  dans  la  chambre. 

B.  Est-ce  le  planclier  blanc? 

A.  Non,  ce  n'est  pas  le  planchcr  blanc. 

B.  Est-ce  la  table  brune? 

A.  Non,  ce  n  'est  pas  la  table  brune. 

B.  Est-ce  le  store  vert? 

A.  Non,  ce  n  'est  pas  le  store  vert. 

And  so  on,  until  the  word  is  guessed,  when  A.  and  B. 
change  places.  Also,  a  guess  can  be  made  at  things  outside 
the  room. 

Esercise  35  (in  Question  and  Answer). 

A.  Combien  de  chaises  y  a-t-il  dans  la  chambre? 

B.  n  y  a  six  chaises  dans  cette  chambre. 

A.  Combien  de  tableaux  y  a-t-il  sur  les  murs? 

B,  n  y  a  neuf  tableaux  sur  les  murs. 

A.  Combien  de  tables  y  a-t-il  dans  cette  chambre? 

3B.  H  y  a  trois  tables  dans  la  chambre. 

A.  Combien  de  bureaux,  f enetres,  murs,  livres,  portes,  etc. 

To  vary  it— 

A.  Combien  d'oeufs  y  a-t-il  dans  la  chambre? 

B.  H  n'y  a  pas  d'ceufs  dans  la  chambre. 

Similar  questions  can  be  asked  with  plumes,  encriers, 
chiens,  hommes,  f  emmes,  dames,  amis,  choses,  crayons,  etc. 

It  cajmot  be  too  firmly  impressed  upon  tlie  student's 
mind  that  frequent  repetition  even  of  words  already  known 
gives  fluency  asd  f  adUty  in  rapid  speaking. 


soldiers'  spoken  rEENca  ZT 

LESSON  vn. 

Pronouns. 
With  the  verbs,  you  have  learnt— 

Je  =  I.  Nous  =  we. 

Tu  =  thou.  Vous  =  you. 

H   =  he.  Us      =  they. 

EUe  =  she.  Elles  =  they  f. 

There  are  also  other  forms,  as — 

Me  (mer)  =  me.  Nous  =  us. 

Te  (ter)     =  thee.  Vous  =  you. 

Le  (ler)     =  him.  Les    =  them. 

La  =  her. 

These  pronouns  all  come  before  the  verbs  in  French,  and 
not,  as  in  English,  one  before  and  one  after. 

Je  te  vols  (zher  ter  vwa)  =  I  see  thee  (lit.  I  thee  see), 

Je  le  vols  =  I  see  Mm. 

Je  la  vols  =  I  see  her. 

Je  vous  vols  =  I  see  you. 

Je  les  vols  =  I  see  tkem. 

Nothing  but  frequent  repetition  will  make  this  change 
of  position  of  pronoun  familiar  to  the  student. 

Ezercise  36. 
1.  Je  vous  vois.  2.  Nous  vous  voyons.  3.  Je  la  vols. 
4.  Nous  la  voyons.  5.  Je  les  vois.  6.  Vous  les  voyez 
7.  Nous  vous  voyons.  8.  Vous  nous  voyez.  9.  II  me 
voit.  10.  Je  le  vois.  11.  Je  Pai.  12.  n  Ta.  13.  Nous 
Tavons.  14.  Vous  I'avez.  15.  Je  le  donne.  16.  Nous  vous 
avons.  17.  H  le  donne.  18.  Nous  le  disons.  19.  Nous  U 
voyons.    20.  Est-ce  que  je  I'ait 


370068 


38  SOLDIERS'    SPOKEN    FRENCfi 

Exercise  37.  (To  Hear  or  Write). 
1.  Je  vols  quatre  oeufs  dans  la  maison  du  monsieur. 
2.  Bonjour,  men  ami,  savez-vous  ou  nous  sommes?  3.  Voua 
etes  dans  le  grand  jardin  du  marchand  de  vins.  4.  Comment 
allez-vcus  aujourd'hui?  5.  J'ai  faim  et  j^ai  soif,  et  je  suis 
tres  fatigue.  6.  Qui  sait  o'^  sent  le  pain  et  le  laitf  7.  H  y 
en  a  dans  la  grande  maison  de  la  dame.  8.  Levez-voua  et 
voyez  le  bon  cafe  et  la  bonne  viande.  9.  Nous  avona  soif 
et  faim,  et  nous  sommes  trSs  fatigues.  10.  L'homme  et  1© 
chien  sent  avee  votre  ami.     11.  Qui  va  lit? 


To  Learn. 
Le  gateau  (garto)  =  cake. 
La  mere  (mair)  =  tlie  mother. 
Le  paquet  (palcay)  =  the  parcel. 
Le  chocolat  (sJiolcGlar)  =  the  chocolate. 
Les  cliaussettes   (shossett)  =  the  socks. 
Le  savon  (savvovJi)  =  the  soap. 
Les  cigarettes  (seegarett)  =  the  cigarettes. 
Le  camarade  Qcamarard)  -  the  comrade. 
Le  frere   (fraer)  =  the  brother. 
Le  matin  (mattinh)  =  the  morning. 
Le  soir  {swar)  =  the  evening. 
Dieu  (D'yer)  =  God. 
La  tranchee  (tranJisliay)  =  the  trench. 
Le  journal  {zlioornall)  -  the  newspaper. 
Les  journaux  {zhoorno)  =  the  newspapers. 
La  pluie  (plwee)  =  the  rain. 
La  boue  (hooh)  =  the  mud. 
Le  tableau  {tablo)  =  the  picture. 


SOLDIEES'    SPOKSN   FEENCH 


Z9 


In  rrench  the  Possessive  Adjective,  *'mj,"  ^'thy,"  etc., 
agrees  only  with  tlie  noun  possessed,  and  not,  as  in  English, 
with  the  possessor. 


Singuli 

ar. 

Plural. 

Mon  m.  (monh) 
Ton  m.   (tonh) 
Bourn,  {sonh) 

ma  f.  (77iar) 
ta  f.   (tar) 
sa  f.   (sar) 

mes  (may)  =  My. 
tes  (tay)  =  Thy. 
ses  (say)  =  his,  her,  its* 

Notre  m.  (notr) 
Votre  m.  (voir) 
Leur  m.  (lerr) 

notre  f. 
votre  f. 
ieur,  f . 

nos  (no)  =  our. 
vos  (vo)  =  your. 
leurs  =  their. 

Mon  livre  =  my  book. 
Ma  plume  =  my  pen. 
Mes  amis  (maisammi) 
-  my  friends. 


son  livre  =  his  or  her  book, 
sa  plume  =  his  or  her  pen. 
ses  amis  =  his  or  her  friends. 


Words  ending  in  au  and  eau  take  x  in  plural. 
Les  tableaux  (tablo)  =  the  pictures.. 
Les  bureaux  (huro)  =  the  desks, 
lies  eaux  (laisd)  -  the  waters. 


Sentences  to  Iieara. 

Je  ne  vous  comprends  pas  (zTier  ner  voo  Tcompronh  par)  s 
I  do  not  understand  you. 

Les  soldats  viennent  (lay  soldar  vienii)  =  the  soldiers  are 
coming. 

Ou  voulez-vous  aller?  (oo  voulay  voozallcy)  =  Where  do 
fou  wish  to  go? 

Qui  etes-vous?  (key  ait  voo)  =  Who  are  you? 


40  SOLDIERS*  SPOKEN  FRENCH  . 

Quel  est  votre  regiment?  {kel  ay  voir  rezheemonh)  -  What 

is  your  regiment? 

Mon  numero  est  (monk  niimairo  ay)  -  My  number  is 

Nous  voulons  quelque  cHose  ^  manger  {Noo  voidonh  Tcelker- 

shows  ar  manlizhay)  =  We  want  something  to  eat. 

Exercise  38.    (To  Hear  and  Translate). 

1.  Je  le  vois  dans  le  champ  avec  I'homme.  2.  Ou  est  la 
dame?  3.  Je  la  vois  dans  la  chambre  avec  les  deux  chiens 
bruns.  4.  Vous  vois-je  dans  la  maison?  5.  Combien  d'ceufs  y 
a-t-il  sur  la  table?  6.  Oil  sont  les  enfants?  7.  Avez-vous  les 
assiettes?  8.  Je  les  ai  dans  la  chambre.  9.  Ou  est  le  pain! 
10.  Je  Pai  aussi.  11.  Nous  ne  le  voyons  pas.  12.  Ou  est  la 
plume?  13.  La  voyez-vous?  14.  Asseyez-vous,  et  voyez  la 
couleur  de  ces  chaises.  15.  J'ai  faim  et  j'ai  soif,  mais  je 
n'ai  pas  froid.  16.  II  a  froid  et  il  a  faim,  mais  il  n'a  pas 
soif.    17.  Vous  avez  froid  et  soif,  mais  vous  n'avez  pas  faim. 

NOTES  ON  PRONUNCIATION  AND  CONVERSATION. 

Since  the  sound  of  words  is  so  different  from  their  appear- 
ance when  written,  the  student  should  take  every 
opportunity  possible  of  hearing  another  speak,  and  of  trying 
to  understand.  People  who  go  to  France  imagining  them- 
selves excellent  scholars  of  the  language,  often  find  them- 
selves quite  unable  to  understand  a  word,  because  they  have 
learnt  the  language  all  by  sight,  and  nothing  by  ear. 

Many  words  sound  the  same,  but  mean  something,  quite 
different,  according  to  the  context.  For  example  "je  les" 
bounds    exactly    the    same    as    "je  I'ai.''      It    is  only  the 


soldiers'  spoken  feench  41 

remainder  of  the  sentence  that  will  make  the  meaning  clear: 
"Jeles  vols'' =  I  see  them.    ''Je  rai"=I  have  it. 

The  words  le  la  les  cause  some  confusion,  as  they  are 
sometimes  articles  and  sometimes  pronouns.  If  the  following 
rule  is  remembered,  however,  trouble  will  be  saved. 

Le  la  les  are  articles  when  placed  before  nouns,  and  are 
pronouns  when  placed  before  verbs. 
Le  journal  =  The  newspaper. 
Je  le  vols  =  I  see  him. 

J,  and  soft  G,  of  identical  sound  in  French,  are  never 
pronounced  with  the  d  sound  like  the  English  *'just"  and 
'* general."  The  sound  is  spelt  ^'zh"  in  the  phonetics  in  this 
book. 

"Journal"  (zhoornal)  =  newspaper. 

^^Genou"  {shernoo)  =  knee. 


LESSON  VIII 
To  Learn. 
la  route  {root)  =  the  way. 

Le  cheval  {sh'vall)  =  the  horse,  pi.  chevaux  {sh*v6)» 
Le  gaz  {garz)  =  the  gas. 
Les  respirateurs  (respeerarterr)  =  respirators. 
Les  boches  (bosh)  =  the  Huns. 
L'ennemi  (ennmee)  =  the  enemy. 
Les  tirailleurs  (teer-t-yeur)  =  the  sharpshooters. 
La  main  (manh)  =  the  hand. 
La  tete  (tait)  =  head. 
Le  corps  (kor)  =  body. 
Le  fromage  (fromarzhe)  =  cheese. 


42  soldiers'    spoken    FRENCH 

Jjes  fruits  (frwee)  -  fruit  (pi.  in  French) 

Les  raisins  (rayzinh)  -  grapes. 

XJne  allumette  (alumet)  =  match. 

lies  hagages  {bagarzhe)  -  luggage. 

Le  fusil  {fuzee)  =  rifle. 

Un  ohus  {ohiis)  -  shell. 

Xe  revolver  (revolvair)  =  revolver. 

Derri^re  (derryair)  =  behind. 

Maintenant  {manht'nanh)  =  now. 

Eendre  (ranMr)  -  to  give  back. 

Sentences. 

Je  vals  chercher  le  medecin  {zher  vay  shairshay  ler 
med'sinh)  =  I  am  going  to  fetch  the  doctor. 

Ou  mene  cette  route?  (^oo  mane  sett  root)  =  Where  does 
tthis  toad  lead? 

Nous  cherchons  la  ville  de  {noo  shairshonh  lar  veel  der)  =: 
We  are  looking  for  the  town  of. 

Bestez  ici  {restayzeesee)  =  Stay  here. 

Kegardez  (rergarday)  =  Look  at. 

Buvez  (biivay)  =  drink. 

Dites-moi  (deet  mivar)  =  tell  me. 

Mangez  (manhzhay)  =  eat. 

Pouvez-vous ?  (poovay  voo)  =  Can  youl 

VSBBS. 
Regular  verbs  have  four  conjugations. 
The  first  ends  in  er,  as  aimer  (aymay)  =  to  love,  like. 
The  second  ends  in  ir,  as  finir  (finneer)  =  to  finish. 
The  third  ends  in  oir,  as  recevoir  (ressevwar)  =  to  receive^ 
The  fourth  in  re,  as  rompre  (ronhpr)  =  to  break. 


soldiers'    spoken    FRENCH  43 

Present  Tense  of  Aimer. 
J'aime  {zJiaim)  =  I  love,  I  like. 
Tu  aimes  {til  aim)  =  thou  lovest. 
H  aime  {eel  aim)  =  lie  loves. 
Nous  aimons   {noozaymonh)  =  vre  love. 
Vous  aimez   {voozaymay)  =  you  love. 
Us  aini(ent)    {eelzaym)  -  they  love. 

Present  Tense  of  finir. 
Je  finis  {feenee)  =  I  finish. 
Tu  finis  {feenee)  =  thou  finishest. 
H  finit  {feenee)  =  he  finishes. 
Nous  finissons  {feeneessonh)  =  we  finish. 
Vous  finissez  {feeneessay)  =  you  finish. 
Ilsfiniss(ent)  {feeneess)  =  they  finish. 

Present  Tense  of  recevoir. 
Je  regois  {rerswar)  =  I  receive. 
Tu  recois  {rerswar)  =  thou  receivest. 
II  regoit  {rerswar)  =  he  receives. 
Nous  recevons  {ressevonh)  =  we  receive. 
Vous  recevez  {ressevay)  =  you  receive. 
Us  re9oiv(ent)    {resswarv)   =  they  receivOo 

Present  Tense  of  rompre. 
Je  romps  {ronh)  =  I  break. 
Tu  romps  {ronh)  =  thou  breakest. 
II  rompt  {ronh)  =  he  breaks. 
Nous  rompons  {ronhponh)  =  we  break. 
Vous  rompez  {ronhpay)  =  you  break, 
lis  romp(ent)  {ronhp)  =  they  break. 


44  soldiers'  spoken  French 

Present  Tense  of  aller  (allay)  =  to  go.     (Irregular  verb)i 
Je  vais  '{vay)  =  I  go,  am  going. 
Tu  vas  (var)  =  .Thou  goest. 
II  va  (var)  -  He  goes. 
Nous  aliens  {noozallonh)  =  We  go. 
Vous  allez  (voozallay)  =  You  go. 
lis  vont  (vonh)  =  They  go. 

Present  Tense  of  pouvoir  =  to  be  able, 
Je  puis  (pwee)  or  je  peux  (pur)  =1  can. 
Tu  peux  (pur)  =  thou  canst. 
II  pent  (pur)  =  he  can. 
Nous  pouvons  (poovonh)  =  we  can. 
Vous  pouvez  (poovay)  =  you  can. 
lis  peuv(eiit)   (purv)  =  they  can. 

Present  Tense  of  vouloir  ±  to  wish. 
Je  veux  (veur)  =  1  wish,  want. 
Nous  voulons  (voolonh)  =  We  wish,  want. 
Vous  voulez  (voolay)  =  You  wish,  want, 
lis  veul(ent)  (verle)  =  They  wish,  want. 

Exercise  39.  (Translate). 
1.  Je  vais  voir  oil  il  est.  2,  Pouvez-vous  aller  sur  la 
route?  3.  Depechez-vous,  nous  pouvons  aller  maintenant. 
4.  Levez-vous  et  allez  dans  le  champ  ou  vous  allez  voir  les 
mitrailleuses.  5.  Pouvons-nous  marcher  jusqu'^  la  fermef 
6.  Non,  vous  pouvez  aller  demain.  7.  Aujourd'hui  vous 
allez  voir  arriver  les  bagages.  8.  Vous  avez  faim,  n'est-ce 
pas?  9.  Alors  mangez  de  ce  bon  pain,  et  buvez  de  cette  eau. 
10.  Est-ce  qu'ils  peuvent  nous  voir  icif  Non,  asseyez-vous 
sous  cet  arbre. 


SOLDIERS'    SPOKEN    FRENCH  45 

Exercise  40.    (Spoken). 
Eepeat  in  Freneli: — 

I  am  going  to  see    {Je  vaif  voir). 

Thou  art  going  to  see. 

He  is  going  to  see. 

We  are  going  to  see. 

You  are  going  to  see. 

They  are  going  to  see. 

In  like  manner: — I  am  going  to  say,  to  write,  to  walk,  to 
eat,  to  finish,  to  receive,  to  give  back,  to  be  able,  to  "vvash,  etc. 
I  can  see,  say,  etc. 
I  am  not  going  to  see,  say,  etc. 
(Je  ne  vais  pas  voir,  je  ne  vais  pas  dire,  etc.). 
I  cannot  see,  say,  etc. 
(Je  ve  puis  pas  voir,  je  ne  puis  pas  dire,  etc.). 

Exercise  41.     (To  hear  or  write). 

1.  Je  peux  voir,  2.  Tu  vas  rendre.  3.  II  veut  aimer. 
4.  Nous  allons  recevoir.  5.  Vous  voulez  rendre.  6.  Us  vont 
finir.  7.  Je  puis  vouloir.  8.  Tu  veux  chercher.  9.  H  va 
pouvoir. 

Verbs  are  put  close  together  in  French.  Vous  allez  voir 
arriver  les  bagages  =  You  are  going  to  see  the  luggage 
arrive. 

Past  Participles. 

Aime  (aymay)  =  Loved. 

Pini  (feenee)  =  Finished. 

Ee$u  (resw)  =  Received. 

Eendu  (ranhdii)  s  Given  baclt. 

A116  (allay)  =  Gone. 


46  SOLDIEES'  SPOKEN  FRENC 

Pu  (pil)  =  Been  able. 
Voulu  (voolu)  =  Wished. 
Edit  (aykree)  =  Written. 
Vu  (vii)  =  Seen. 
Lev6  (levvay)  =  Kaised. 
Eu  (it)  =  Rad. 
Ete  (ettay)  ~  Been. 
Assis  (assee)  =  Seated. 
Rest§  (resiay)  =  Eemained. 

The  Past  Tense  of  verbs  is  made  with  the  past  participle 
and  an  auxiliary  verb,  either  to  liave  or  to  be. 

Past  Tense  of  aimer. 
J'ai  aime  =  I  loved  or  I  have  loved. 
Tu  as  aime. 
II  a  aim6, 
Nous  avons  aime. 
Vous  avez  aim^. 
lis  out  aime. 

Past  Tense  of  finir. 
J'ai  fini  =  I  finished,  or  I  have  finished. 
Tu  as  fini. 
II  a  fini. 
Nous  avons  fini. 
Vous  avez  fini. 
lis  ont  fini. 

In  like  manner — 
J*ai  recii,  etc.  =  I  have  received. 
J'ai  rendu,  etc.  =  I  have  given  back, 
J'ai  pu,  etc.  =  I  have  been  able. 


soldiers'    spoken    FRENCH  47 

J'ai  voulu,  etc.  =  I  have  wished. 
J'ai  6ciit,  etc.  =  I  have  written. 
J*ai  vu,  etc.  =  I  have  seen. 

With  verbs  of  movement,  such  as  aller  =  to  go,  arriver  = 
to  arrive,  partir  =  to  depart,  to  "be  is  used  instead  of  to  have. 
In  the  plural  the  past  participle  takes  s  after  the  verb  to  be. 

Past  Tense  of  aller  -  to  go. 
Je  suis  alle  (sweezallay)  =  I  went,  I  have  gone  (lit.  "I  am 
gone.") 

Tu  es  all^  (aymllay)  =  Thou  wentest. 

n  est  alI6  (aytallay)  -  He  went. 

Nous  sommes  alles  {sommzallay) . 

Vous  etes  alles  (aytsallay)  =  You  went. 

lis  sont  alles  (sonlitallay)  =  They  went. 

Much  practice  is  required  for  the  above  tenses. 

Sentences  to  Learn. 

Quand  etes-vous  arrive?  {konh  tayt  voozarreevay)  -  When 
did  you  arrive?  (lit.  are  you  arrived?). 

Je  suis  venu  11  y  a  deux  jours  {Zher  swee  venii  eel  ee  ar  der 
ehoor)  =  I  came  two  days  ago.    (lit.  I  am  come). 

n  est  alle  11  y  a  ime  semaine  {Eel  ayt  allay  eel  ee  ar  iin 
sermayn)  =  He  went  a  week  ago. 

lis  sont  partis  11  y  a  trois  mols  {Eel  sonh  partee  eel  ee  ar 
trwar   mwar)  =  They  went  away  three  months  ago. 
Exercise  42.     (To  speak  or  write). 

1.  I  have  arrived  a  week  ago.  2.  He  v/ent  away  a  montH 
ago.  3.  They  came  two  days  ago.  4.  They  went  away  three 
days  ago,  etc. 

N.B.  It  is  important  to  make  these  sentences  up  yourself,  as  in 
conversation  one  ought  not  to  depend  on  the  book  entirely. 


48  soldiers'  spoken  FRENCH 

Tout  a  rheure  {toot  ar  leur)  =  Presently,  soon. 

Encore  (anhlcor)  =  Again. 

L'annee  prochaine  (lannay  proshayn)  =  Next  year. 

Le  mois  prochain  (ler  mwar  proshmh)  -  Next  month. 

La  semaine  prochaine  {lar  sermayn  proshayn)  =  Next  week. 

The  Future  Tenses  have  a  place  to  themselves.  If, 
however,  the  student  cannot  remember  the  future  of  a  verb, 
he  can  substitute  the  words  *'I  am  going'*  followed  by  the 
Infinitive,  as: 

Je  vais  ecrire  =  I  am  going  to  write,  for  I  shall  write. 

Je  vais  chercher  =  I  am  going  to  seek. 

Je  vais  aller  =  I  am  going  (to  go). 

Je  vais  voir  =  I  am  going  to  see,  etc., 
through  the  whole  tense. 

Je  vais  marcher  tout  a  I'heure  =  1  am  going  to  marcb 
presently. 

Nous  allons  manger  tout  k  Theure  =  We  are  going  to  eat 
presently. 

Tu  vas  partir  Tannee  prochaine  =  Thou  art  going  away 
next  year. 

II  va  a  la  guerre  le  mois  prochain  =  He  is  going  to  the 
war  next  month. 

Nous  allons  en  Angleterre  la  semaine  prochaine  =:  We  are 
going  to  England  next  week. 


Numerals. 

21  Vingt-et-un  (vinht  a  unh)  24    Vingt-guatre, 

=  twenty-one.  25    Vingt-clnq. 

22  Vingt-deux  (vinh    der)       26    Vingt-six. 

=  twenty-two.  27    Vingt-sept. 

23  Vingt-trois.  28    Vingt-huit. 


soldiers'  spoken  FRENCH 


49 


29 

Vingt-neuf. 

75 

Soizante-quinze. 

^0 

Trente   (tranht). 

76 

Soixante-seize. 

n 

Trente-et-un. 

77 

Soixante  dix-sept. 

32 

Trente-deux,  etc. 

78 

Soixante  dix-huit. 

iO 

Quarante  {TcaranM) . 

79 

Soixante  dix-neuf. 

50 

Cinquante  (sinhlcanht) . 

80 

Quatre-vlngts    (Jcatrer 

30 

Soixante  (soissanht) 

vmh) 

70 

Soixante-dix. 

81 

Quatre-vingt-un,  etc.,  to 

'1 

Soixairte-et-onze. 

90 

Quatre-vingt-dix. 

r2 

Soixante-douze. 

91 

Quatre-vingt-onze,  etc.,  to 

73 

Soixante-treize. 

100 

Cent,   (soiih). 

^4 

Soixante-quatorze. 

1000 

Mille  (mcel). 

It  will  be  noticed  that  the  French  say  ^ '  sixty -ten ' '  for  70; 
md  ^^sixty-eleven"  for  71,  etc.,  that  quatre-vingts  means 
^four  twenties,"  and  that  90  is  "eighty-ten,"  and  so  on 
:o  100. 

The  Ordinal  Numerals  are  very  simple.  They  are  chiefly 
formed  by  adding  i^me  to  the  cardinal,  after  dropping  a 
inal  e  mute.  Cinq  adds  u,  and  neuf  changes  f  to  v  before 
idding  ihme. 

1st  Premier  (premmeay),  TTnieme  {une-e-em). 

Jnd  Second  (s'gonh),  Deuxieme  (ders-e-em). 

h-d  Troisieme  (trwars-e-em)      21st  Vingt-et-unieme. 

tth  Quatrieme.  30th  Trentieme. 

)th  Cinquieme.  40th  Quarantieme. 

;th  Sixieme.  44th  Quarante-quatriSme. 

)th  Neuvleme.  1 00th  Centieme. 

:1th  Onzieme. 

Thus,  by  saying  the  cardinals,  and  adding  ieme,  any 
>rdinai  numerals  can  be  formed. 

Coinage,  measures  of  length,  weight,  and  capacity,  ar* 
ill  decimal  in  French,  making  arithmetic  much  simpler  than 
n  English. 


50  SOLDIERS'    SPOKEN    FRENCH 

La  moitie  {mwarteay)  =  tlie  half. 

Les  trois  quarts  (kar)  =  three  quarters. 

Une  livre  et  demie  {d'mee)  =  a  pound  and  a  half 
(weight). 

XTn  mdtre  (length)  {maytr)  =  a  metre  (about  1yd.  Sin.). 

Un  kilometre  (length)    (Mllomaytr)  =  f  of  a  mile. 

Un  kilogramme  (weight)   (Mogram)  =  2J  lbs.  . 

Un  litre  (leetr)  r  If  pints.  I 

Tin    franc    (fronh)    =    100    centimes    (senhteem)    =    lOdi  I 
English  money.  I 

Tin  sou  (soo)  =  5  centimes  =  ^d.  English  money. 

The  centime  is  not  a  coin,  but  a  unit  for  measuring  value. 
There  are  100  centimes  in  1  franc,  and  10  centimes  go  to 
make  our  English  penny.  If  you  see  marked  in  shops,  an 
article  costing  Ifr.  70  c^  that  merely  is  equivalent  to  1  franc 
(=  lOd.  Eng.)  +  7d.  Eng.,  making  in  English  money  1/5.  The 
usual  coins  in  France  are  the  5  franc,  the  2  franc,  the  1  f raii.c, 
the  50  centimes  (=  5d.  Eng.),  the  25  centimes  (=  2|d.  Eng.), 
and  the  10  centime  coin,  called  ' '  piece  de  deux  sous, '  *  (piayce  * 
der  der  soo)  =  piece  of  2  sous,'*  equivalent  to  an  English  I 
penny.  There  is  also  a  gold  coin  of  20  francs,  called  a  louis> 
or  napoleon. 

Exercise  43. 

You  are  in  France,  and  are  going  shopping,  on  a  search 
for  food,  especially  for  something  different  from  what  yon 
have  had  in  the  trenches.  You  enter  a  small  shop,  and  there 
is  a  woman  behind  the  counter.  There  is  sure  to  be  a  woman, 
because  even  before  the  war  women  did  most  of  the  selling; 
but  now 1 


SOLDIERS'  SPOKEN  FRENCH  51 

You  enter,  and  salute.  Every  Frenchwoman,  no  matter 
how  humble  her  circumstances,  expects  to  be  treated  as  a 
lady,  and  she,  also,  will  treat  you  as  a  gentleman.  You 
commence  by  saying:  ''Bonjour,  Madame.'' 

Madame:  "BoEjour,  Monsieur." 

You:  *  *  Avez-vous  quelque  cliose  de  T)on  a  manger?' ' 

Madams: "Mais  certainement,  monsieur,  que  voulez-vous? 
J'ai  de  bons  raisins,  des  prunes,  des  biscuits,  du  cliocolat." 
You:  "Avez-vous  des  ceufs,  madame?'* 

Madame:  "Oui,  monsieur,  des  ceufs  tous  fraio,  du  jambon, 
des  saucisses,  des " 

You:  (wondering  all  the  time  what  the  -words  *'frais" 
and  "saucisses"  mean,  Madame  has  the  sense  to  point  to  a 
fine  string  of  sausages  near  her).  "Ah,  oui,"  you  exclaim, 
delighted  at  guessing  the  word.  "  Saucisses— sausages. 
23onn8z-moi  deux  livres  de  saucisses,  Madame,  une  livre  da 
beurre,  et  une  doujzaine  d'oeuf s. ' '  Your  tastes  do  not  run  to 
sweet  things,  but  you  clutch  the  sausages,  butter,  and  eggs 
delightedly.  Madame  smiles,  but  waits  relentlessly  for  the 
money. 

You:  "Combien,  Madame,  s'il  vous  plait?" 

Madame:  "Les  saucisses,  cinq  francs,  Monsieur;  le  beurre, 
deux  francs  cinquante;  les  ceufs  si  frais,  si  frais,  *Monsieur 
comprend  que  je  ne  pourrais  les  vendre  moins  que  trois  francs 
la  douzaine." 

Here  you  have  to  stop  and  make  a  calculation.  How  much 
did  you  have  to  pay  Madame  (a)  in  French  money,  (b)  in 
English  equivalent?    I  leave  you  to  find  out.    But  in  quitting 

^Monsieur  understanas  that  I  could  not  sell  them  (for)  less  than  three 
francs  tbe  clozen. 


S^'  soldiers'  spoken  FRENCH 

the  shop,  you  turn  politely  to  Madame,  raise  your  hand  to 
your  cap,  and  say  "Bon  jour,  Madame."  And  the  lady  will 
say  "Au  revoir,  Monsieur,  merci  beaucoup.  Revenez  im 
autre  jour."     (Come  back  another  day). 

FUTURE  TENSES. 

Every  Future  tense  in  the  French  language  has  the  same 
Ending  for  its  persons,  viz.: — 
1st.  sing.     ..  ..     ai         1st  plur.    ..  ..     ons 

2nd     „  ..  ..     as        2nd    „        ..|  ..     ez 

3rd    ,^         ..  ..a         3rd    „       [.,]  ^..    ont 

Future  of  aimer. 
J'almerai  {zhaynieray)  -  I  shall  love. 
Tu  aimeras  (aymera)  -  Thou  wilt  love. 
II  aimera  (aymera)  =  He  will  love. 
Nous  aimerons  {aymcronli)  =  We  shall  love., 
Vous  aimerez  (aymeray)  =  You  will  love, 
lis  aimeront  (aymeronh)  =  ThBy  will  love. 

Porter  (portay)  -  to  carry. 

Lever   ylevvay)  -  to  lift. 

Casser  (kassay)  =  to  break. 

Tirer  {tiray)  =  to  fire  (to  draw,  pull). 

Arborer  (arhoray)  -  to  hoist  (a  flag). 

Marcher  (marshay)  =  to  march,  walk. 

Inonder  (innonhday)  =  to  flood. 

Viser  {yeczay)  -  to  aim. 

Parler  (parley)  =  to  speak. 

Esperer  (espairay)  =  to  hope. 

Passer  (passay)  =  to  pass. 


SOLDIERS*  SPOKEN  FRENCH  53 

Bemporter  (remhportay)  =  to  gain  (carry  off)  (a  victory). 
GalQper  (gallopay)  =  to  gallop. 
Sangler  (sanhglay)  =  to  girth  or  strap. 
Fourrager  (fourarzhay)  =  to  forage. 

Panser  (panhzay)  =  to  groom  (a  horse),  to  .dress  (a 
wound). 

Retrancher   (retranhshay)  =  to  entrench. 

Marquer  (niarkay)  =  to  mark  (time). 

Rater  (rartay)  =  to  miss  fire. 

Culbuter  (Jcullbiitay)  =  to  overthrow. 

Parlemonter  (parlermanhtay)  =  to  parley. 

Demonter  {demonhiay)  =  to  take  to  pieces, 

Rallier  (ralleeay)  —  to  rajly. 

Fixer  (feexay)  =  to  fix.     -, 

Trouver  (troovay)  =  to  find. 

Touraer  (toornay)  =  to  turn. 

Manquer  (manhkay)  =  to  miss  (be  absient), 

Saluer  (saliiay)  =  to  salute. 

Eclairer  (aylclairay)  =  to  scout. 

Baser  (rarsay)  =  to  shave.' 

The  Present  Tense  of  all  the  above  verbs  is  formed 
exactly  like  aimer.  So  also  are  the  Past  and  Future  Tenses. 
(1)  The  student  should  therefore  take  them  one  after  the 
other  and  conjugate  them  with  aimer  as  his  model.  It  i3 
impossible  t<^  practise  this  too  often.  (2)  Two  students,  or 
student  and  teacher,  should  now  pick  out  verbs,  and  ask 
one  another  to  give  translation. 

Exercise  44.     (Example). 
1.  I  pass.    2.  Thou  wilt  girth.    3.  He  has  taken-to-pieees. 
4.  We  shall  turn.    5.  You  have  dressed  (the  wound).    6.  You 


54  SOLDIERS'  SPOKEN  FRENCH 

are  missing  fire!  (Vous  ratez!).  7.  They  have  parleyed.  8.  We 
are  rallying.  9.  You  will  gain  (victory).  10.  They  fixed. 
il.  He  will  turn.  12.  We  salute.  13.  I  have  missed. 
14.  They  will  carry.  15.  You  have  broken.  16.  Thou  liftest. 
17.  We  walk. 

The  Imperative  mood  is  made  from  the  Present  Tense, 
and  presents  no  difficulty. 

Aime  =  love  (thou).  Marche  =  March  (thou). 

Aimons  =  let  us  love.  Marchons  =  Let  us  march, 

Aimez  =  love   (ye).  Marchez  =  March  (ye). 


Passe  =  Pass   (thou). 
Passons  =  Let  us  pass. 
Passez  =  Pass  ye. 


Exercise  45.. 

•Put  all  the  above  verbs  into  the  Imperative  Mood. 

You  have  now  learnt  the  Present,  Past,  and  Future  tenses, 
and  the  Imperative  mood  of  verbs  ending  in  er.  Such 
knowledge  ought  to  tide  you  over  any  momentary  difficulty. 


LESSON  X. 

One  of  the  greatest  differences  between  French  and 
English  is  the  use  of  pronouns.  As  already  stated  both 
subject  pronoun  (as  je)  and  object  pronoun  (as  me)  come 
before  the  verb. 

There  is  also  the  indirect  object-pronoun  of  the  third 
person,  as 


soldiers'   spoken   FRENCH  55 

Lui  (Iwee)  =  to  him,  for  him,  to  her,  for  her. 
Leur  (lerr)  =  to  them,  for  them. 

These  pronouns  also  come  before  the  verb,  bu.  follow 
le,  la,  les. 

It  is  impossible  to  gain  facility  in  the  use  of  these 
pronouns  by  learning  rules.  The  rules  are  given  simply  that 
the  student  may  recognise  the  words  when  he  hears  them. 
Nothing  but  frequent  practice  will  show  him  where  to  place 
them,  but  a  few  sentences  learnt  by  heart  will  help  greatly. 

Je  le  vols  =  I  see  him. 

tu  la  vols  =  thou  seest  lier. 

il  les  volt  =  he  sees  them. 

With  I'oi  and  lenr — 

Vous  lui  parlez  =  You  speak  to  him. 

Nous  leur  parlous  =  We  speak  to  them. 

Me,  te,  se,  nous,  vous  serve  both  as  direct  and  indirect 
object-pronouns.  For  example,  ''me"  means  me  and 
to  me,  etc 

H  me  donne  les  fusils  =  He  gives  me  the  rifles- 

II  me  les  donne  =  He  gives  them  to  me. 

H  les  leur  donne  =  He  gives  them  to  them. 

H  le  lui  donne  =  He  gives  it  to  him. 

n  nous  le  donne  =  He  gives  it  to  us. 

H  nous  la  donne  =  He  gives  it  (f.)  to  us. 

Elle  me  la  donne  =  She  gives  her  to  me. 

Nous  vous  le  donnons  =  We  give  it  to  you. 


^6 


soldiers'  spoken  FRENCH 


These  sentences  should  be  learnt,  and  also  the  following 
table  of  positions; — 


<^ 

me 

ij    . 

d 

te 
se 
nous 

come 
before 

le 
la 
les 

come 
before 

lui 
leur 

11 

d 

vous 

<  ** 

d 

se 

Je  le  lui  donne  =  (lit.  I  it  to  him  give). 

"It"  is  the  direct  object  and  to  Mm  the  indirect  object, 
lused  with  the  verb  ^'give.'' 

Je  les  leur  donne  (I  them  to  them  give)  =;  I  give  them  to 
them. 

Je  vous  le  donne  =  I  give  it  to  you. 

Je  la  lui  donne  =  I  give  her  to  him. 


Exercise  46. 

Two  students  should  try  and  ask  a  question,  such  as 
*'A  qui  donnez-vous  la  plume T' 

Ans.:  "Je  la  lui  donne.'' 

Ques.:  "A  qui  donnez-vous  Tencrier,  le  pain,  I'eau,  Tceuf, 
le  lalt,  etc''?  and  the  other  should  answer  as  above,  according 
to  the  gender  of  the  noun  referred  to. 

Words  ending  in  al  or  ail  change  that  ending  to  aux 
in  the  plural. 

Le  cheval  (sh'vall)  =  the  horse. 

Les  chevaux  (sh'vo)  =  the  horses. 

Le  travail  (trawl)  =  the  work  (ail  like  i  in  "mine"), 

Les  travaux  (travo)  =  the  works. 


SOLDIERS'  SPOKEN  FRENCH 


57 


Principal  (prinhseepal)  =  principal  (adj.)* 
Principaux  (prinhseepo)  (plural). 

Nouns  already  ending  in  s,  and  those  ending  in  x  and  z 
remain  tke  same  in  the  plural.    For  example 
lie  bois,  les  tiois;  le  gaz,  les  gaz. 


Some  Irregular  Feminin.es. 
Masculine.  Feminine. 

Active  (aTcteev)  =  Active. 

Heureuse  (eurrers)  =  Happy. 

Blanche  iblanhsh)  =  TVhite. 

Longue  (lonhgue)  (like  gue  in  morgue)  = 

long. 
Fausse  (foe-ss)  =  false  (like  oe  in  foe). 
Neuve   (nerve)   =  new,  new-made. 
The  formation  of  Comparatives  is  easy.    With  the  excep- 
tion of  one  or  two  words,  "plus"   (plu)  is  put  before  the 
Positive,  to  form  the  Comparative,  and  'Ue  plus"  or  *'la 
plus"  to  form  the  superlative, 

for  "better."    The 


Actif  (akteefy 
Heureux  (eurer) 
Blanc  Cblanh) 
Long  (lonh) 

Faux  (foe) 
Neuf  (nerf) 


N.B.    Never  say 
word  following  is 


'  plus  hop.  "  but  always  "  meilleur ' 
'  que,"="  than." 


Positive. 

Comparative. 

Masc.  Actif  =  active 

plus  actif  =  more 

active. 

Fem.    Active. 

plus  active 

Masc.  Keureux  = 

plus  heureux  = 

happy; 

happier; 

Fem.    Heureuse. 

plus  heureuse 

le  plus  actif  =  most 
active 

la  plus  active 

le  plus  heureux  = 
happiest. 

la  plus  heureuse. 

H  est  plus  actif  que  vous  =  He  is  more  active  than  you. 
Elle  est  plus  heureuse  que  sa  scsur  =  She  is  happier  than 
her  sister. 


Superlative. 


58  soldiers'  spoken  French. 

Si  (see)  =  So. 

Pourquoi?  (poorkwar)  =  Why? 
Parce  que  (parss  ker)  =  Because. 
Encore  (anhkor)  =  Yet,  again. 

Exercise  47.     (To  Read  or  Hear). 

1.  Pourquoi  etes-vous  toujours  si  actif?  2.  Parce  que  je 
suis  heureux.  3.  Pourquoi  avez-vous  encore  faim?  4.  Parce 
que  j'ai  beaucoup  marclie  aujourd'hui.  5.  Connaissez-voHS 
ce  soldat?  6.  C'est  monsieur  le  Capitaine  X.  7.  Quel 
fromage  avez-vous  acbete?  8.  Pourquoi  avez-vous  apporte 
ce  beurre?  9.  Parce  que  je  n'ai  pas  pu  acheter  de  la  viande. 
10.  C'est  dommage,  mais  n'importe,  mangeons.  11.  Avez- 
vous  vu  mon  cheval  dans  le  champ?  12.  Non,  je  n'ai  pas 
encore  ete  dans  le  champ,  je  suis  alle  dans  la  ville.  13.  Le 
colonel  est  plus  actif  que  le  capitaine. 

Words  ending  in  eu'  take  x  in  the  plural. 

Cheveu,  clieveux  (sheveur)  -  Hair  (always  plur.). 

Le  feu  {feur)  =  the  fire ;  Les  f eux  =  the  fires. 

En  when  placed  before  a  verb  means  of  it,  of  them,  some 
or  any. 

En  avez-vous?  {onavvay  voo)  =  Have  you  any! 

En  vonlez-vous?  =  Do  you  want  some? 

II  y  en  a  (eel  ee  onnar)  =  There  is  some. 

II  n'y  en  a  pas  =  There  is  none. 

Y  when  placed  before  a  verb  means  "to  it,"  *'to  them," 
and  sometimes  "there." 

Y  allez-vous?  =  Are  you  going  there? 

Y  peasez-voiis ?     Do  you  think  of  (to)  it? 
(Eemcmber  that  the  French  say  "to  think  to.") 
II  y  est  =  He  is  there. 


soldiers'  spoken  FRENCH  59 

AUez-vous?  =  (lit.  go  you?)     Are  you  goijig? 

Savez-vous?  =  (lit.  know  you?)     Do  you  know? 

Asseyez-vous  =  Sit  (you)  down. 

Levez-vous  =  Get  (you)  up  {i.e.,  stand  up). 

The  two  former  of  the  above  phrases  merely  ask  a 
question:  "Are  you  going?"   "Do  you  know?'* 

But  the  two  latter  form  part  of  reflexive  verbs,  of  which 
there  are  more  in  French  than  in  English.  "Seat  yourself," 
"Eaise  yourself,"  are  the  literal  meanings. 

Reflexive  verbs  are — 

Se  lever  {lew ay)  -  to  get  up,  to  get  out  of  bed. 

Se  coucher  {looslwy)  =  to  go  to  bed. 

S'habiller  {sabtecyay)  -  to  dress  oneself. 

Se  laver  (lavvay)  -  to  wash  oneself. 

Se  bafctre  {battr)  =  to  fight. 

Se  mettre  {meitr)  =  to  place  (seat)  oneself. 

Se  promener  {provi'nay)  =  to  go  for  a  walk. 

Present  Tense  of  s'habiller. 

Je  m'habille  {^her  maVoee)  =  I  dress  myself. 

Nous  nous  habillons  (nop  noo^a'bee-yonli)  zz  We  dress 
ourselves. 

Vous  vOuS  liabillez  (voo  voozahee-yay)  -  You  dress 
yourselves. 

ns  s'habilleiit  {eel  sathee)  ■=  They  dress  themselves. 

Imperative  Mood  of  se  laver. 
Lave-toi  {lav  twar)-  Wash  thyself. 
Lavons-nous  {lavvonli-noo)  =  Let  us  wash  ourselves. 
Lavez-vous  (lavvay-voo)  =  Vv^'ash  yourselves. 
For  the  Past  Tense,  Reflexive  verbs  are  conjugated  with 
etre. 


60  soldiers'  spoken  FRENCH 

Past  Tense  of  se  b^ttre. 
Je  me  suis  battu  (battii)  =  I  have  fought,  I  fought. 
Tu  t'es  battu  =  Thou  hast  fought. 
II  s'est  battu  =  He  has  fought. 
Nous  nous  sommes  battus  =  We  have  fought. 
Vous  vous  etes  battus  =  You  have  fought, 
lis  se  sont  battus  =  They  have  fought. 

Mettez-vcus  la  (mettay  voo  lar)  =  Sit  down  there. 

Nous  aliens  nous  mettre  §,  table  =  We  are  going  to  sit 
down  to  table. 

Mis  (mee)  =  put. 

Ou  avez-vous  mis  les  legumes?  (legiim)  =  Where  have  you 
put  the  vegetables?  . 

"Avez-vous?"  also  means  "did  you?" 

Remember — There  are  no  words  "do"  or  **did'*  in  that 
sense  in  French. 

Savez-vous?  =  Do  you  know?  (know  you?)  (a  fact). 

Connaissez-vous  (konnaysay)  =  Do  you  know?  (know  you?) 
(a  person). 

Dimanche  (deemanhsh)  =  Sunday. 

Lundi  (lunhdee)  -  Monday. 

Mardi  {mar dee)  -  Tuesday. 

Mercredi    (mairkrerdee)   =  Wednesday.^ 

Jeudi  (jerdee)  =  Thursday. 

Vendredi   {venhdrerdee)  -  Friday. 

Samedi   (samdee)  =  Saturday. 

Approchez-vous  {approshay-voo)  —  Come  here. 

J'ai  grand'faim  {gronh  fainh)  =  I  am  very  hungry. 

Voulez-vous  a  boire?  (bwar)  =  Will  you  have  (something) 
to  drink? 


SOLDIERS'  SPOKEN  FRENCH  61 

Singular.  PluraL 

Quel,  m.  (Tcel) ,  tiaelle  f.  (Tcel)    quels,  m.  quelles,  f .  =  what? 
Qu'avez-vous?   (kavvay-voo)  =  Wl:at  is  the  matter  with 
70U?  (lit.  ''What  have  joxiV). 
'Toujours   (toozhoor)  =  always. 
Quelquefois   (kellcerfwar)   =  sometimes. 
Comme  (kom)  =  like. 
Fait  (fay)  =  made. 

Exercise  48.     (To  Read  and  Speak). 

1.  Ou  allcz-vous?  2.  Je  vais  regarder  la  mitrailleuse;' 
3.  Qu'avez-vous,  mon  ami?  4.  J'ai  grand 'f aim  et  j 'ai  soif 
aussi.  5.  Alors,  mettez-vous  ici  et  reposez-vous.  6.  Que 
voulez-vous  a  boire?  7.  Je  veux  du  vin  et  de  I'eau.s'il  vous 
plait.  8.  Certainement,  voici  du  bon  pain  blanc  et  du 
fromage.  9.  Qu'avez-vous  fait,  mes  amis?  10.  Nous  avons 
mis  nos  chevaux  dans  le  champ,  et  nous  nous  sommes  battus 
avec  les  boches.  11.  Quel  jour^  vous  etes-vous  battus? 
12.  C'est  lundi  dernier  que  nous  avons  commence.  13.  Et 
vous  voici  ici  maintenant  sains  et  saufs.  A  la  bonne  heure! 
14.  Maintenant  restez,  et  dinez  avec  nous.  - 15.  Ou  avez-vous 
mis  la  viande,  mon  cher?  16.  Le  voici,  et  voila  aussi  les 
legumes.  17.  Savez-vous  ou  sont  les  boches  maintenant? 
18.  Non,  je  "ne  le  sais  pas.  19.  Lavez-vous  et  habillez-vous 
tout  de  suite.  20.  Je  me  suis  lave,  et  je  me  suis  habille. 
21.  Ou  sont  nos  amis?  Je  les  vols  dans  la  maison.  22.  Donnez 
moi  des  oeufs.  23.  Je  vous  les  donne.  24.  H  me  les  a 
donne.  25.  Voulez  vous  7  aller?  26.  Voulez-vous  m'en 
donuer? 

Les  Boches  (bosh)  =  the  Huns. 

Sains  et  saufs  (sanh  say  soaf)  =  sound  and  safer 


62  SOLDIERS'  SPOSEN  FRENCH 

Exercise  49.     (Spoken). 
Two  students  should  ask  eaeh  other: — 
Quest.:  "Qui  voyez-vous ? ^ '  =  Whom  do  you  see? 
Ans. :  Je  te  vois,  je  l8  vols,  j8  vous  vois,  etc. 
Quest.:  Qui  clierclies-voiis? 
Ans. :  Je  te  cherclie,  je  le  clierclie,  etc. 
For  ''A  qui  donnez-voiis  1©  journal?''  the  pronoun  musi 
be  the  indirect  one — "to  Mm,"  "to  tliem.'*' 


LESSON  XI. 

Ce,  cet,  cette,  ces,  means  this  or  that.  To  distinguish 
between  this  and  that  in  a  sentence,  the  word  ci  (see)  is 
added  to  one  noun,  and  the  word  la  is  added  to  the  other. 

Co  livre-ci  =  this  book. 

Ce  livrs-la  =  that  book. 

Oette  femme-ci  et  cet  homme-l^  =  This  woman  and  that 
man. 

Ces  jardiss-ci  ©t  ces  maisons-1^  =  Tliese  gardens  and  thos© 
houses. 

Ne pas  =  not. 

Ne rien  (rienh)  =  nothing. 

Ne jamais  (zhamay)  =  never. 

Ne. que  (Tcer)  =  only. 

On  (onh)  is  a  pronoun  very  frequently  used,  and  is 
equivalent  at  times  to  the  English  "one,"  "they,"  "we," 
"you,"  "people,"  all  indefinitely  used. 

On  dft  {onh  dee)  =  People  say,  we  say,  they  say,  it  is  said. 


SOtDIERS  ^  SPOKEN  FRENCH 

POSSESSIVE  PEONOUNS. 


Sing. 

Plural, 

Masc. 

Fern. 

Masc. 

Fern. 

Le  mien 

La  mienne 

Les  miens 

Les  miennes  =  mine. 

(mietih) 

(mienn) 

(mienh) 

(mieim) 

Le  ti.811 

La  tienne 

Les  tions 

Les  tiennes   =  thine. 

Le  sien 

La  sienne 

Les  siens 

Les  siennes   =  his,  hers, 

its. 
Les  notres  =  ours. 

Le  notre 

La  notre 

Les  notres 

Le  votre 

La  votre 

Les  votres 

Les  votres  =  youra. 

Le  leur 

La  leur 

Les  leurs 

Les  leurs    =  theirs. 

Exercise  50.     (To  Eead  or  Translate). 

1.  Mon  livre  est  le  mien. 

2.  Ta  plume  est  la  tienne. 

3.  Son  fusil  est  le  sien. 

4.  Notre  champ  est  le  notre. 

5.  Vos  fusils  sent  les  votres 

6.  Leurs  mitrailleuses  sent  les  leurs. 

To  Learn. 

A  qui  est  la  tasse?  =  Wliose  is  the  cup?  (To  whom  belongs 
the  cup?) 

A  qui  sont  les  chausettes?  =  Whose  are  the  socks? 

Les  chauEsettes  sont  les  votres  =  The  socks  are  yours. 

De  qui  parlez-vous?  =  Of  vrliom  do  you  speak? 

A  qui  pensez-vous?  =  Of  (lit.  to)  whom  do  you  think? 

Qui  aimez-vous?  =  Whom  do  you  like? 

Que  vouiez-vous?  =  What  do  you  want? 

Notice  that  with  Interrogative  pronouns  qui  is  used  of 
persons,  and  que  of  things. 

Qu'avez-vous?  {Tcavvay-voo)  =  What  have  you?  What  is 
the  matter  with  you? 


64  soldiers'  spoken  FRENCH 

Prepositions. 

A  =  To  Devant  (devvanh)  =  Before. 

Dans  =  In  Derriere  (derryair)  =  Behind. 

Sur  =  On  Avant  (avanh)  -  Before. 

De  =  Of  Pres  de  {pray  der)  =  Near. 

Avec  =  Witli  Chez  (sJiay)  =  At  the  house,  shop 
Sous  =  Under  or  place  of— 

Aprds  =  After  Pour  (poor)  =  For. 

Devant  means  before  (of  place). 
Avant        „       "before   (of  time). 
Devant  la  porte  =  In  front  of  the  door. 
Avant  la  nuit 

Lemuel  de  ces  journaux  voulez-vous? 

Wkich  of  these  newspapers  will  you  have? 

Laquelle  de  ces  dames  est  I'lnfirmiere  (inhfeermiair)^ 

Which  of  these  ladies  is  the  nurse? 

Lesquels  de  ces  soldats  sont  blesses? 

Which  of  these  soldi iers  are  wounded? 

Laquelle  de  ces  femmes  est  la  mere  de  cet  enfant? 

Which  of  these  women  is  the  mother  of  this  child? 

Exercise  51.     (Spoken  between  two  students). 

Mention  anything  in  the  room,  and  speak  about  i^  at 
follows: — 

A.  Laquelle  de  ces  chaises  est  noire? 

B.  Cette  chaise-ci  est  noire. 

A.  Lequel  de  ces  livres  est  rouge? 
Be  Ce  livre-la  est  rouge. 


soldiers'  spoken  rRENCH  69 

A.  Laquelle  de  ces  portes  est  ouverte? 

B.  Cette  porte-la  est  ouverte. 

A.  Laquelle  de  ces  fenetres  est  fenneel 

B.  Cette-fenetre-ci  est  fermee. 

A.  Lequel  de  ces  encriers  est  noii? 

B.  Cet  encrier-la  est  noir. 

A.  Laquelle  de  ces  assiettes  est  blanche? 

B.  Cette  assiette-ci  est  tlanclie. 

A.  Lequel  de  ces  joumaux  est  vert? 

B.  Ce  journal-la  est  vert. 

A.  Lequel  de  ces  rideaux  est  jaune? 

B.  Ce  rideau-la  est  jaune. 

Questions   and    answers   such    as   the   above   should    bo 
thought  out  in  French  by  the  students. 


•Exercise  52.    (Translate), 

1.  Quel  livre  est  rouge?  2.  Ce  livre-U  est  rouge. 
3.  Lequel  de  ces  soldats  est  bless6?  4.  Ce  soldat-la  est  blesse, 
et  ce  soldat-ci  est  trSs  fatigue.  5.  0^  avez-vous  trouve  ces 
mitrailleuses?  6.  Dans  ce  champ-1^  devant  Peglise.  7.  Quelle 
heure  est-il?  8.  II  est  quatre  heures  et  demie.  9.  II  faut 
dtre  k  la  ville  avant'cinq  heures.  10.  Qu 'avez-vous,  mon  ami? 
11.  Je  suis  malade  et  j'ai  grand 'soif.  12.  Alors,  asseyez- 
vous  ici,  et  buvez  de  cette  bonne  eau-1^.  13.  Cette  eau-ci  est 
meilleure  que  I'eau  dans  la  ville,  n'est-ce  pas?  14.  Cer- 
tainement,  vous  avez  raison.  15.  Ou  sont  nos  bagagesf 
16.  ns  sont  derriire  cet  arbre-1^.  17.  Alors  allez  vite  les 
chercher.    J8.  Void  rennemi.    19.  Qui  va  lei?    20.  Un  ami. 


66  soldiers'  spoken  frbkoh 

Adverbs. 
Add  ment  to  the  adjective  to  form  the  adverb.    Add  it 
sometimes  to  the  feminine  form. 

Adj.  Poll,  e  (po-lee)  =  Polite. 

Adv.  Poliment  (po-lee-menh)  =  Politely. 

Adj.  Vrai,  e  (vray)  =  True. 

Adv.  Vraiment  (vraymenh)  =  Truly. 

Adj.  Heureux  (er-er),  heureuse  (er-ers)  -  happy. 

Adv.  Heureusement  (erersmenh)  =  happily. 

In  like  manner — 

Froidement  (frwardmenh)  =  Coldly. 

Chaudement  (shddmenh)  =  Warmly,  etc. 

Positive:  Bien  (hienh)  =  Well. 
Comparative:  Mieux  (mieur)  =  Better. 
Superlative:  Le  mieux  =  Best  (adverb)* 

Prepositions. 
Entre  (enhtr)  =  between.  Au-dessus  de  (o  dessu  der)  a 

Par  (par)  =  by.  above. 

Aprds  (apray)  =  after.  Au-dessous  de.(o  dessoo  der)  a 

Prds  (pray)  =  near.  under. 

The  pronouns  following  prepositions  are: — 
Singular.  Plural. 

Moi  (mwar)  =  me.  Nous  =  us. 

Toi  (twar)     =  thee.  Vous  =  you. 

Lul  (Iwee)     -  him.  Eux  (er)       =  them. 

EUe  =  her.  £Iles  =  them,  £. 


SOLDIERS'  SPOKEN   FRENCH  67 

Exercise  53.     (Translate). 
A  moi,  sur  toi,  entre  nous,  de  lui,  par  elle,  avec  nous, 
apr^s  vous,  devant  euz,  derri^re  elles. 

Exercise  54. 

In  front  of  me,  by  thee,  near  us,  behind  him,  with  her, 
by  us,  in  front  of  you,  upon  them,  to  them,  f.,  etc. 

Conjunctions. 
Et  (a)  =  And.  Car  (kar)        =  For. 

Alors  (allor)  =  Then.  Ou  (oo)  =  Or. 

Parce  que  (parss  ker)  =  Because. 

Interjections. 
Courage!  (Jcurarzh)  Courage  I 
Garde  a  vous!   (gard  ar  voo)  =  Look  out! 
Gare!  {garr)  =  Take  care! 
Dis-donc!  {dee  donh)  =  I  say! 
Halte-la!  {atU  lar)  =  Halt! 

Tout  le  monde  (too  ler  monhd)  =  Everybody. 

Tous  les  ans  (too  layzanh)  =  Every  year. 

Tous  les  mois  (too  lay  mwar)  =  Every  month. 

Toutes  les  semaines  (toot  lay  sermayn)  -  Every  week. 

Tous  les  jours  (too  lay  shoor)  =  Every  day. 

Tous  les  mardis  (too  lay  mardee)  -  Every  Tuesday. 

LESSON    XII. 
Parts  of  the  Body, 
la  tite  (tait)  =  The  head. 
Le  Tisage  (veezarzh)  =  Face. 


soldiers'  spoken  FRENCH 

Le  crane  (cram)  =  Skull. 

Ii'CBil  m.  (oye)  -  Eye. 

Lies  yeux  {yer)  =  Eyes. 

Le  nez  (nay)  =  Nose. 

La  joue  (zhoo)  =  Cheek. 

La  bouche  (boosh)  =  Mouth. 

La  dent  (denh)  -  Tooth> 

La  langue  (langg)  =  Tongue. 

La  gorge  {gorzh)  -  Throat. 

Le  menton  (menhtonh)  =  Chin. 

Le  cou  (Icoo)  =  Neck. 

L'epaule  (eppole)  =  Shoulder.  j 

La  poitrine  (pwartreen)  =  Chest. 

Les  poumons  (poomonh)  =  Lung8. 

Le  dos  (doe)  =  Back. 

Le  bras  (hrar)  =  Arm. 

Le  coude  (kood)  =  Elbow. 

Le  poignet  (pwoyiiay)  =  Wrist 

La  main  (mainh)  =  Hand. 

Le  doigt  (dwar)  =  Finger. 

Le  ponce  (p'ouss)  =  Thumb.  j 

Les  ongles  (onhgl)  =  Finger-naila  1 

L'estomac  {lestommar)  =  Stomach, 

La  jambe  {zTiamKb)  =  Leg. 

La  cuisse  (kweess)  =  Thigh. 

Le  genon  (zhernoo)  =  Knee. 

La  cheville  (shevee)  =  Ankle. 

Le  talon  (tallonh)  =  Heel. 

Le  pied  (peay)  ^  Foot. 

Les  doigts  de  pied  (dwar  de  peay)  -  Toes. 

Le  coeur  {kerr)  =  Heart. 

La  colonne  vertebrale  (Jcolonn  vairtayhrarl)  =  Spine.) 


soldiers'  spoken  FRENCH  69 

Remark. 

The  parts  of  the  body  are  usually  spoken  of  with  the 
article,  e.g.,  my  head  =  la  tete,  when  there  is  no  doubt  of  the 
possessor.    For  example — 

J'ai  mal  a  la  tete  (lit.  I  have  hurt  to  the  head)  =  I  have 
a  headache. 

J'ai  mal  a  Toeil  =  I  have  a  sore  eye. 

J'ai  mal  au  bras  =  I  have  hurt  my  arm. 

J'ai  mal  a  la  main  droite  =  I  have  hurt  my  right  hand. 

J'ai  mal  au  pied  gauche  =  I  have  hurt  my  left  foot. 

J'ai  mal  aux  poumons  =  I  have  a  pain  in  my  lungs. 

J'ai  mal  a  la  gorge  =  I  have  a  sore  throat. 

J'ai  mal  au  genou  =  I  have  hurt  my  knee. 

Exercise  55.     (Important  Speaking). 
One  student  should  point  to  a  part  of  the  other's  body, 
saying  at  the  same  time: 

A.  Ou  avez-vous  mal?  =  (Where  have  you  hurt!) 

(touching  B  's  arm) . 

B.  J'ai  mal  au  bras. 

A.  Ou  avez-vous  mal?  (touching  head). 

B.  J'ai  mal  a  la  tete. 

And  so  on,  through  all  the  parts  of  the  body.  Then  A.  and  B. 
should  change  places,  and  recommence. 

In  several  instances  a  different  verb  is  used  in  French 
from  the  corresponding  English  one.  For  instance,  as  already 
mentioned,  I  am  hungry  is  J'ai  faim  (I  have  hunger).  This 
is  also  the  case  with  several  other  words: — 

J'ai  sommeil  (sommayc)  -  I  am  sleepy  (lit.  I  have  sleep). 

J'ai  raison  {rayzonli)  -  I  am  right  (lit.  I  have  right). 


70  soldiers'  spoken  feench 

J'ai  tort  (torr)  =  I  am  wrong  (lit.  T  have  wrong). 

In  speaking  of  age  also,  the  verb  to  have  is  used  in 
French. 

Quel  age  avez-vous?  (lit.  What  age  have  you?)  =  How  old 
are  youf) 

J'ai  vingt  ans  =  I  am  twenty  (years  old). 

Quel  age  a-t-il?  =  How  old  is  he? 

II  a  dix-neuf  ans  =  He  is  nineteen. 

(The  word  ans  =  years  must  always  be  expressed  in 
French.) 

Celui,  m.s.  {sellwee),  celle,  f.s.  {sell),  ceux  m.  pi.  (seur)^ 
celles  f.  pi.  (sell)  =  That  one,  the  one,  he,  she,  those  (ones). 

Ceci  (sersee)  -  this;  cela  (serlar  or  s'lar)  =  that. 

Celui  que  vous  avez  vu  est  arriv6  =  He  whom  you  saw  has 
arrived 

Ceci  est  bon,  cela  est  mauvais  =  This  is  good,  that  is  bad. 

It  has  been  said  that  pronouns  precede  the  verbs  in 
French.  There  is  just  one  exception,  in  the  case  of  the 
Imperative  Mood,  affirmative.  Then  the  pronoun  follows  the 
verb. 

Donnez-moi  =  Give  me. 

Voyez-le  =  See  it. 

Begardez-les  =  Look  at  them,  and  so  on. 

In  speaking  of  the  weather  H  fait  (lit.  it  makes)  is 
used  for  it  is. 

Quel  temps  fait-il?  =  What  weather  is  it?  (lit.  makes  it? 

II  fait  beau  temps  =  It  is  fine  weather. 

II  fait  mauvais  temps  =  It  is  bad  weather,. 

II  pleut  (eel  pier)  =  It  rains. 


SOLDIERS*  SPOKEN  FRENCH  71 

II  neige  (eel  naysh)  =  It  snows. 

Past — n  a  plu  (plii),  II  a  neige  (nayzhay). 

Also,  n  fait  chaud;  il  fait  froid. 

n  pleut  averse  (plertaverss)  =  it  rains  in  torrents. 

Exercise  56. 

1.  Quel  temps  fait-il?  2.  II  fait  mauvais  temps,  il  pleut 
averse.  3.  Ne  sortons  pas  aujourd'hui. .  4.  Mais  il  faut 
sortir,  voici  I'ennemi.  5.  Levez-vous  tout  de  suite,  et 
regardez  ces  deux  chevaux.  6.  Celui-ci  est  au  soldat  fran^ais, 
et  celui-la  est  au  colonel  anglais.  7.  Celui-ci  est  le  meilleur 
cheval.  8.  Donnez-moi  d  'autres  crayons,  j  'ai  perdu  ceux  que 
vous  m'avez  prete.  9.  Je  parle  de  Kitchener  et  de  Jellicoe. 
•10.  Celui-ci  est  amiral  et  celui-la  etait  general.  11.  Donnez- 
imoi  cela;  je  n^ai  pas  besoin  de  ccci.  12.  Voici  mon 
'fusil.  Celui  de  mon  camarade  est  encore  plus  neuf  (still 
newer).  13.  IL  fait  beau  temps  aujourd'hui,  mais  hier  il  a 
fait  mauvais  temps. 

That  (que)  must  always  be  expressed  in  French. 

"I  h-Ope  you  received  my  ^tter"  =  '^J'esp^re  que  vous 
avez  regu  ma  lettre.'  * 

Specimen  Letter  in  French, 
(From  a  sister  to  her  brother  at  the  Front). 

To  Learn. 
Elle-meme  (ell  maim)  =  Herself. 
Lui-meme  (twee  maim)  =  Himself. 
Fait  mettre  (fay  mettr)  =  Had  put. 
Je  sals  bien  (zher  say  Menh)  =  I  well  know. 
Mange-en  (manhzh-onh)  =  Eat  some. 
Cli^ri  (sherree)  -  Darling. 

Moi  aussl  (mwar  6-see)  =1  also;  me  also;  so  am  L 
Nous  prions  (preeonh)  =  We  pray. 


72  SOLDIERS*  SPOKEN  FRENCH 

Chaque  {shack)  -  Each,  every. 

Qu'il  protege  (protaizhe)  =  That  he  may  protect, 

Qu'il  renvoie  (renhvwar)  =  That  he  may  send  back. 

Que  tu  as  du  (dil)  =  How  thou  must  have. . . . 

Souffrir  (sooffreer)   (means  to  suffer)  =  suffered. 

Maudites  (md-deet)  =  Wretched  (accursed). 

A  ce  qu'on  voit  =  By  what  one  sees. 

On  n'a  eu  rien  que  =  They  have  had  nothing  but 

Rappelle-toi   (rapx>ell)  =  Eemember. 

Nous  pensons   (pe7ihsonh)  =  We  think. 

Nous  travaillons  (travvi-yonh)  =  We  work. 

Nous  prions  (pree-onh)  =  We  pray. 

Tu  te  battes  (til  ter  batt)  =  Thou  fightest. 

Tu  sais  (say)  =  Thou  knowest. 

Notre  sainte  patrie  (iiotr  sernht  pattree)  -  our  holy 
motherland. 

Brave  (brarv)  =  Brave. 

Courageux  (hooraslier)  -  Brave,  courageous. 

Loyal  s.,  loyaux  pi.  (Iwoy-al,  Iwoy-o)  =  loyal. 

Que  Dieu  te  benisse  (l:er  D'yer  ter  henneess)  =  God  bless 
thee. 

Ta  soeur  (seurr)  =  Thy  sister. 

Qui  t'aime   (key  iaim)  =  Who  loves  thee. 

LETTER  TO  THE  FRONT, 
Mon  ties  cher  frere,— 

J'espere  que  tu  as  vegu  le  bon  gateau  que  nous  t'avons 
•fenvoye  T autre  jour.  La  petite  mere  I'a  fait  elle-meme,  et 
nous  avcns  aussi  fait  mettre  dans  le  paquet  un  tas  d'autres 
choses — du  chocolat,  des  chaussettes,  du  savon  et  des 
cigarettes.    Je  sais  bien  que  tu  en  donneras  a  tes  camarades. 


soldiers'  spoken  FRENCH  73 

mais  mange-en  aussi  de  ce  bon  gateau,  mon  petit  frere  cheri, 
parce  que  c'est  pour  toi  que  nous  Tavons  fait.  Mere  est 
tres  trds  brave,  et  moi  aussi.  Nous  prions  chaque  matin  et 
cbaque  soir  au  bon  Dieu  pour  qu'il  te  protege,  et  qu'il  te 
nous  renvoie  sain  et  sauf.  Que  tu  as  dfi  souffrir,  mon  ami, 
dans  ces  maudites  tranchees  ou,  a  ce  qu'on  voit  dans  les 
joumaux,  on  n'a  eu  rien  que  la  pluie,  I'eau  et  la  bouel 
Rappelle-toi  toujours  que  nous  ne  pensons  i  rien  qu'  a  toi, 
aous  travaillons  pour  toi,  et  nous  prions  pour  toi  jour  et  nuit. 
C'est  pour  nous  que  tu  te  battes.tu  sais,  pour  notre  roi,  pour 
notre  sainte  patrie,  et  pour  nos  braves  Allies,  les  Pransais, 
qui  sont  si  courageux  et  si  loyaux. 

Au  rfiybir,  f  r^re  cheri,  que  Dieu  -te  b^nisse, 
Ta  soeur  qui  t'aime, 

BOSE 


Part  II. 

SOME  IMPORTANT  TENSES  OF  VERBS. 

The  Present  Tense  of  verbs  has  already  been  givcH 
(pp.  43-44),  and  the  Past  Tense  (pp.  46-47).  It  has  been 
mentioned  that  the  Past  Tense  in  French  is  made  with  the 
past  participle  and  an  auxiliary  verb,  either  avoir  or  etre; 
as  J'ai  aime  =  I  have  loved,  or  I  loved;  II  a  fini  =:  he  has 
finished,  or  he  finished;  Je  suis  alle  =  I  have  gone,  or  I 
■went,  etc. 

The  Past  Tense  above-mentioned  is  the  tense  used  in 
every-day  speech,  as  "Hier  j'ai  re^u  une  lottre"  =  "Yester- 
day I  received  a  letter.''  It  is  called  the  Past  Indefinite 
tense. 


74  SOLDIERS'   SPOKEN   FRENCH 

There  is  another  past  tense  called  the  Imperfect,  which 
IS  also  much  used.    It  has  the  same  endings  in  every  verb  in 
the  French  language.     The  endings  are  as  follow: — 
Sing.    1st  pers. — ais.  PI.  1st  pers. — ions. 

2nd  pers. — ais.  2nd  pers. — iez. 

3rd  pers. — ait.  3rd  pers. — aient. 

Imperfect  Tense  of  Avoir  =  to  have. 

J'av-ais  (shavvay)  =  I  had,  I  was  having. 

Tu  av-ais  (tii  away)  =  thou  hadst. 

II  av-ait  (eel  away)  =  he  had. 

Nous  av-ions  (noozavvyonTi)  =  we  had. 

Vous  av-iez  (yoozavvyay)  =  you  had. 

lis  av-aient  (eelzavvay)  =  they  had. 

Imperfect  Tense  of  etre  =  to  be. 

J'et-ais  (shettay)  =  I  was. 

Tu  et-ais  (tii  ettay)  =  thou  wast 

II  6t-ait  (eelettay)  =  he  was. 

Nous  et-ions  (noozettyonh)  -  we  were. 

Vous  et-iez   (voozettyay)  -  you  were. 

lis  et-aient  (eelsettay)  -  they  were. 

Imperfect  Tense  of  donner  =  to  give. 

Je  donn-ais  (donnay)  =  I  gave,  I  was  giving. 

Tu  donn-ais  =  thou  gavest. 

II  donn-ait  =  he  gave. 

Nous  donn-ions  =  we  gave, 

Vous  donn-iez  =  you  gave, 

lis  donn^aient  =  they  gave, 


SOLDIERS*  SPOKEN   FRENCH  75 

Imperfect  Tense  of  Finir  =  to  finish. 

Je  fin-iss-ais  (finneessay)  =  I  finished,  I  was  finishing. 

Tu  fin-iss-ais  =  thou  finishedst. 

II  fin-iss-ait  =  he  finished. 

Nous  fin-iss-ions  =  we  finished. 

Vous  fin-iss-iez  =  You  finished. 

lis  fin-iss-aient  =  They  finished. 

(Notice  the  insertion  of  iss  into  regular  verbs  of  the 
2nd  Conjugation  ending  in  ir,  but  irregular  verbs  do  not 
insert  iss.) 

The  Imperfect  Tense  in  French  is  used  to  describe  an 
action  as  going  on  while  another  took  place,  as: — 

Je  finissais  non  diner  quand  le  general  est  arrive  =1  was 
finishing  ray  dinner  when  the  general  arrived. 

Les  soldats  traversaient  le  pont  quand  I'ennemi  est  venu 
=  The  soldiers  were  crossing  the  bridge  when  the  enemy  came. 

The  words  used  to  are  translated  into  the  Imperfect  Tense 
in  French. 

Nous  parlions  sou  vent  de  nos  meres  =  We  often  used-to- 
speak  of  our  mothers, 

J'allais  souvent  a  la  ville  =  I  often  used-to-go  to  the  town. 

Ensuite   (enhsiveet)  =  then,  next. 

Se  coucher  {ser  'kooshay)  =  to  go  to  bed. 

Le  lendemain  {lenhdermanh)  -  the  next  day. 

Rejoindre  (rerjicandr)  =  to  join. 

La  compagnie  {kornhpi-ilee)  =  the  company. 

Habiter  (abheetay)  =  to  live  in. 

Demain   (dermanh)  =  to-morrow. 

De  bonne  heure   (der  bonn  eur)  =  early. 

Estaminet,  m.   (estammecnay)  -  cofFee-house> 

Loin   (Iwnnh)  =  far, 


76  soldiers'  spoken  french 

Contre  (kontr)  -  against. 

Traverser  {travmrsay)  =  to  cross. 

Us  riaient  {reeay)  -  they  laughed,  were  laughing. 

Pendant  que  {'pe^danh  Tcer)  -  while. 

Voyager  (vwayarzhay)  =  to  travel. 

Ecosse  (AyTcoss)  =  Scotland. 

Exercise  57. 

Apres  le  diner  j'allais  voir  les  malades  k  I'hopital. 
Ensuite  je  me  suis  couche.  Le  lendemain  matin  je  suis  alle 
rejoindre  ma  compagnie.  Avant  la  guerre  j'habitais  une 
petite  ville  en  Ecosse.  J 'avals  alors  dix-huit  ans.  Main- 
tenant  j'ai  vingt-deux  ans.  Domain  nous  nous  leverons  de 
bonne  heure.  Hier  nous  sommes  alles  k  I'estaminet.  Voici 
les  soldats  Amerieains.  lis  sont  venus  de  tr^s  tres  loin,  se 
battre  contre  nos  ennemis.  lis  ont  traverse  la  mer,  et  ils  sont 
arrives  en  France.  Ils  chantaient  et  riaient  pendant  qu'ils 
voyageaient 

Exercise  58. 

1.  We  were  eating.  2.  You  were  marching.  3.  He  was 
thinking.  4.  You  used-to-eat.  5.  They  were  carrying.  6.  I 
used-to-speak.  7.  Tliey  were  missing-fire.  8.  He  was 
scouting.    9.  They  were  galloping.     10.  You  were  breaking. 

As  already  explained  the  Imperfect  endings  of 
all  verbs  are  the  same.  Therefore  when  the  1st  Person  only  is 
given,  the  student  oan  himself  supply  the  remainder  of  the 
tense.  Working  out  these  tenses  in  speech  or  in  writing  is 
good  exercise 

**Thou,''  the  2nd  Pers.  Sing,  is  used  more  frequently  in 
French  than  in  EngUsh.  The  French  say,  "tu,''  thou  to 
intimate  friends,  members  of  the  family,  and  young  children. 


SOLDIERS'   SPOKEN   FRENCH  77 

As  previously  stated,  the  1st,  2nd,  and  3rd  Persons  Singular 
of  the  Present  Tenses  are  usually  pronounced,  though  not 
spelt,  exactly  the  same.  The  3rd  pers.  sing,  nearly  always 
ends  in  t,  except  in  verbs  of  the  First  Conjugation,  as 
"aimer.''  As,  however,  all  three  persons  sound  alike,  the 
1st.  pers.  sing,  only  will  usually  be  given,  with  the  1st,  2nd, 
and  3rd  persons  plural. 

Future  of  Tinir  (2nd  Conj.  Regular) — 
Je  finir-ai  (feeneeray)  -  I  shall  finish. 
Tu  finir-as  {fecneerar)  -  Thou  wilt  finish. 
H  finir-a  {feenecrar)  -  He  will  finish. 
Nous  finir-ons  {feeneeronh)  =  We  shall  finish. 
Vous  finir-ez  (feeneeray)  =  You  will  finish, 
lis  finir-ont  {feeneeronh)  =  They  will  finish. 
Future  of  Recevoir  (3rd  Conj.  Reg.). 

Je  recevr-ai  (ressevray)  =  I  shall  receive,  etc. 
Future  of  rompre  (ronhpr)   (4th  Conj.  Reg.) — 

Je  rompr-ai  (ronhpray)  =  I  shall  break. 
The  Present  Participle  of  regular  verbs,  and  of  some 
irregular  ones,  is  very  easily  made,  by  taking  away  tho 
Infinitive  endings  in  er,  oir,  re,  and  adding  ant  (anh).  Verbs 
ending  in  ir  add  -issant.  Irregularly-formed  Present  Parti- 
ciples will  be  found   on  page  87. 

Port-er  Port-ant  (portanh)  =  Carrying. 

Fin-ir  Fln-issant  =  Finishing. 

Recev-olr  Eecev-ant  =  Receiving. 

Romp-re  Romp-ant  =  Breaking. 

The  Infinitive  is  often  used  in  French  where  in  English 
we  use  the  Present  Participle,  as 

"Avant  de  commencer"  =  <* Before  commencing.'* 
(avvcinh  der  commenlisQp) 


78  soldiers'  spoken  French 

IRREGULAR  VERBS. 
Arranged  Alphabetically. 
Aller  {allay)  =  To  go. 
Present  Tense  already  given  on  page  44. 
Imperfect. 
J'allais  (zhallay)  =  I  was  going. 

Future. 
J*ir-ai  (eheeray)  =  I  shall  go. 
Tu  ir-as  (tii  eerar)  =  Thou  wilt  go. 
II  ir-a  {eel  eerar)  ~  He  will  go. 
Nous  ir-ons  (noozeeronh)  =  We  shall  go. 
Vour  ir-ez   {voozeeray)  =  You  will  go. 
Us  ir-ont  (eelzeeronh)  =  They  will  go. 

Interrogative. 
Irai-je?  (eerayzh)  -  Sh^ll  I  go? 
Irez-vous?  (eeray  voo)  =  Will  you  go? 

Or, 
Est-ce  que  j'iral?  =  Shall  I  go? 
Est-ce  qu'il  ira? 
Est-ce  que  vous  irez? 
Courir   (kooreer)  =  To  run. 

Present. 
Je  cours  (Icoor)  =  I  run. 

Imperative. 
Cours  (koor)  =  Run  (thou). 
Oourons  (Jcooronh)  =  Let  us  run. 
Courez  (Tcooray)  =  Run  (ye). 

Imperfect. 
Je  courais  (kooroAf)  =  I  was  iMnning. 


SOLDIERS'   SPOKEN    FRENCH  79 

Future. 
Je  courrai  (koor-ray)  -  I  shall  run,  etc. 

Past. 
J'ai  couru  (kooru)  =■  I  ran,  have  run,  etc. 

Couvrir  (koovreer)  =  To  cover. 
Present. 
Je  couvre  (koovr)  =  I  cover. 
Nous  couvrons  (koovronh). 
Vous  couvrez  (koovray). 
Us  couvr(ent)    (koovr). 

Imperfect. 
Je  COUvrais  (koovray)  =  I  was  covering. 

Future. 
Je  couvrir-ai  =  I  shall  cover. 

Past. 
J'ai  couvert  =  I  covered. 

Dire  (deer)  =  To  say,  tell. 

Present. 
Je  dis  (dee)  -  I  say. 
Nous  disons  (deezonh)  =  We  say. 
Vous  dites  (deet)  =  You  say. 
Us  dls(ent)   (dees)  =.  They  say. 

Imperfect. 
Je  disais  {deezay)  =  I  was  saying. 

Future. 
Je  dir-ai  (deeray)  =  I  shall  say. 

Past. 
J'ai  dit  {shay  dee)  =  I  have  said. 


80  soldiers'  spoken  French 

Dormir  {dormeer)  -  To  sleep. 
Je  dors  {dor)  -  I  sleep. 
Nous  dormons  (dormonli)  =  We  sleep. 
Vous  dormez   (dormaij)  =  You  sleep, 
lis  dorment  (dorm)  =  They  sleep. 

Imperfect. 
Je  dormais  (dormay)  -  I  was  sleeping. 

Future. 
Je  dormir-ai  (dormeeray)  =  I  shall  sleep. 

Past. 
J'al  dormi  (dormee)  =  I  slept. 

Ecrire  {aykreer)  -  To  write. 
Present. 
J'^cris  {zhaylcree)  =  I  write. 
Nous  ecrivons  {aylcreevonli)  -  We  write. 
Vous  ecrivez  {aylcreevay)  ~  You  write, 
lis  ecrivent  (aylcreev)  -  They  write. 

Imperfect. 
J'ecrivais  {zliaykreevay)  -  I  was  writing. 

Future, 
j'ecrirai  (sJiayJcreeray)  =  I  shall  write. 

Past. 
J'ai  ecrit  {aykree)  -  I  wrote,  I  have  written 

Envoyer  {enJivwoyay)  -  To  send. 
Present. 
J'envoie  (enhvivar)  =  I  send. 
Nous  envoy ons  (enhviuoyyonh). 
Vous  envoyez  (enhvwoyyay) . 
lis  envoient    (enJivivar). 


SOLDIERS'  SPOKEN  FRENCH  81 

Imperfect. 
J'envoyais  (enlivwoyyay)  =  I  was  sending. 

Puture. 
J'enverr-ai  (onTivairay)  =  I  shall  send. 

Past. 
J'ai  envoye  (onhvwoyay)  =  I  sent,  have  sent. 

Etre  (aytr)  =  To  be. 

Future. 
Je  ser-ai  (serray)  =  I  shall  be. 
Past. 
J'ai  6t4  (etiay)  =  I  have  been. 

Faire  (fair)  -  To  do,  make,  cause. 
Present. 
Je  fais  (fay)  =  I  make,  do. 
Nous  faisons  (ferzonh). 
Vous  faites  (fate). 
Us  font  (fonh). 

Imperfect. 
Je  faisais  (fersay)  -  I  was  doing. 

Future. 
Je  fer-ai  (f  err  ay)  -  I  shall  do,  make. 

Past. 
J'ai  fait  (fay)  -  I  have  done,  made. 

Lire  {leer)  -  To  read. 

Present. 
Je  lis  (Z^e)  =  I  read. 
Nous  lisons  (leesonh). 
Vous  lisez  (leeway). 
ns  lis(ent)  (lees). 


82  soldiers'  spoken  French 

Imperfect. 
Je  lisais  (leeway)  =  I  was  reading, 

Future. 
Je  lir-ai  (leeray)  =  I  shall  read. 

Mettre  (mettr)  =:  To  put. 

Imperfect. 
Je  mettais  (mettay)  =  I  was  putting. 

Imperative. 
Mets  (may)  =  Put  (thou). 
Mettons  {mettonh)  =  Let  us  put. 
Mettez  (mettay)  =  Put  (ye). 

Future. 
Je  mettr-ai  (mettray)  =  I  shall  put 

Past. 
J'ai  mis  (mee)  =  I  have  put. 

Se  mettre  (ser  mettr)  -  To  seat  oneself 

*'Mettez-vous  ici"  =  '*Sit  down  here." 
Offrir  (offreer)  =  To  offer  (like  Couvrir). 
Ouvrir  (oovreer)  -  To  open  (like  Couvrir) 

Partir  (parteer)  =  To  go  away,  depart. 
Present. 
Je  pars  (par)  =  I  go  away. 
Nous  partons  (partonh)  =  We  go  away 
Vous  partez  (partay)  =  You  go  away. 
lis  part(eiit)   (part)  =  They  go  away. 

Imperfect. 
Je  partais  (partay)  =  I  was  going  away. 


SOLDlEfts'   SPOKEN  FRENCH 

Future^ 
Je  partir-ai  (parteeroy)  -  t  shall  go  away. 

Past. 
Je  suls  parti  (partee)  =  I  have  gone  away. 
Pleuvoir  (plervwar)  =  To  rain. 
Present. 
IJ  pleut  (pier)  =  It  rains,  is  raining. 

Imperfect. 
II  pleuvait  (plervay)  =  It  was  raining. 

Future. 
n  pleuvra  (plervrar)  =  It  will  rain. 

Past. 
H  a  plu  (plu)  =  It  has  rained. 

Pouvoir  (poovwar)  =  To  be  able. 
Imperfect. 
Je  pouvais  (poovay)  =  I  was  able,  I  could. 

Future. 
Je  pourr-ai  (poor-ray)  -  I  shall  be  able. 

Past. 
J'ai  pu  (pit)  =  I  have  been  able. 

Eire  (reer)  =  To  laugh. 

Present. 
Je  lis  (ree)  =  1  laugh. 
Nous  rions  (ree-onh)  =  We  laugh. 
Vous  riez  (ree-ay)  =  You  laugh. 
lis  ri(ent)  (ree)  =  They  laugh. 

Imperfect. 
Je  rials  (reeay)  a  I  was  laughing. 


84  SOLDIERS'  SPOKEN  FRENCH 

ruture. 
Je  rir-ai  (reeray)  =  I  shall  laugh. 

Past. 
J'ai  ri  (ree)  =  I  have  laughed. 

Savoir  (savwar)  =  To  know. 

Present. 
Je  sais  (say)  -  I  know. 
Nous  savons  (savvonh)  =  We  know. 
Vous  savez  (savvay). 
Us  savent  (saw). 

Imperfect. 
Je  savais  (savvay)  -  I  used  to  know. 

Future. 
Je  saurai  (soar-ay)  =  I  shall  know. 

Past. 
J'ai  su  (sii)  =  I  knew 

Sentir  (senhteer)  =  To  feel,  smell. 
Present. 
Je  sens  (senh)  =  I  feel. 
Nous  sentons  (senhtonli)  -  We  feel. 
Vous  sentez  (senhtay)  -  You  feel, 
lis  sent(ent)    (senht)  =  They  feel. 

Imperfect. 
Je  sentais  (senhtay)  -  I  was  feeling. 

Future. 
Je  sentir-ai  (senhteer ay)  -  I  shall  feel,  or  smell. 

Past. 
J'ai  senti  (senhtee)  =  I  have  felt,  or  smelt. 


soldiers'  spoken  FRENCH  85 

Sortir  (sorteer)  =  To  go  out. 
Present. 
Je  sors  (sors)  =  I  go  out  (like  sentir). 

Imperfect. 
Je  sortais  (sortay)  =  I  was  going  out. 

Future. 
Je  sortir-ai  (sorteeray)  =  I  shall  go  out. 

Past. 
Je  suis  sorti  (sortee)  =  I  have  gone  out,  I  wont  out. 

Souffrir   (souffreer)   =  To   suffer. 

(Same  as  ouvrir  and  couvrlr.) 
Sourire  (sooreer)  =  To  smile. 

(Same  as  rlre  ='To  laugh.) 
Se  souvenir  {sooveneer)  =  To  remember. 
(Same  as  venir.) 
Past. 
Je  me  suis  souvenu  (soovenu)  =  I  remembered,  have 
remembered. 

Suivre  (sweevr)  =  to  follow. 

Present. 
Je  suis  (swee)  -  I  follow. 
Nous  suivons  (sweevonh). 
Vous  suivez  {sweemy). 
lis  suiv(ent)  {sweev). 

Imperfect. 
Je  suivais  (sweevay)  =  1  was  following. 

Future. 
Je  suivrai  (sweevray)  =  I  shall  follow. 
Sulvez-moi  (sweevay  rawar)  =  Follow  me. 


86  SOLDIERS'  SPOKEN  FRENCH 

S&  taire  (tayre)  =  To  be  silent. 
Imperative. 
Tais-toi  (tay  twar)  -  Be  (thou)  silent.    **fl"old  yoct 

tongue.*' 
Taisez-vous  (tayzay  voo)  =  Be  (you)  silent. 

Tenir  (tenneer)  =  To  hold. 

(Same  as  venir.) 

Venir  (venneer)  =  To  come. 

Present. 
Je  viens  (vienh)  =  I  come. 
Nous  venons  (^vennonh)  =  "We  come, 
Vous  venez  (vennay)  =  You  come, 
ns  vieim(ent)   (vienn)  =  They  come. 

Imperfect. 
Je  venais  (vennay)  =  I  was  coming. 

ruture. 
Je  viendr-ai  (vienhdray)  =  I  shall  come. 

Past. 
Je  suis  venu  (venu)  ^z  I  have  come. 

Vivre  (vcevr)  =  To  live. 

Present. 
Je  vis  (vee)  =  I  live,  etc. 
Nous  vivons  {veevonh). 
Vous  vivez  (veevay). 
lis  viv(ent)  {veev). 

Imperfect. 
Je  vivais  (veevay)  =  I  was  living. 

Future. 
Je  vivr-ai  (veevray)  =  I  shall  live. 


soldiers'   spoken  FRENCH  87 

Past. 
J  al  v6cii  (velcM)  =  I  have  lived. 
Voir  (vwar)  -  To  see. 

Present. 
Je  vois  {vwar)  -  I  see.     See  page  32. 

Imperfect. 
Je  voyais  (vivoyay)  =  I  was  seeing. 

Future. 
Je  verr-ai  (vairay)  =  I  shall  see. 
Vouloir   {voolwahr)  -  to  wish. 
Present. 
Je  veux  {veur)  -  I  wish;  see  p.  44. 

Imperfect. 
Je  voulais  (voolay)  =  1  was  wishing. 

Future, 
Je  voudr-al  (voodray)  =  I  shall  wish. 

Past. 
J'ai  voulu  (voolii)  =  I  have  wished. 
"Je  voudrais"  (voodray)  =  "I  should  like." 
"Veuillez"  {veuy-yay)  =  "Be  so  good  as." 

PRESENT  PAETICIPLES  (irregular). 
Apprenant  (apprennanh)  =  Learning. 
3'asseyant  (sassdyanh)  =  Seating  oneself. 
Ayant  (ayanh)  =  Having. 
Buvant  {hilvanh)  =  Drinking. 
Comprenant  (konJiprennanh)  =  Understanding. 
Conduisant  (Iconhdweezanh)  =  Leading. 
Connalssant  (konnayssanh)  =  Knowing. 
Bisant  {deezanh)  -  Saying. 
Ecrivant  (aykreevanh)  =  Writing. 
Etant  (ettanh)  =  Being. 


88  soldiers'  spoken  French 

Faisant  (ferzanh)  =  Making,  doing. 
liisant  (leezanh)  =  Beading. 
Paraissant  (parayssanh)  =  Appearing 
Prenant  (prennanh)  =  Taking. 
Riant  (reeanh)  =  Laughing. 
Sacbant  (sashanh)  =  Knowing. 
Suivant  (sweevanh)  =  Following. 
Vainquant  (vainhkanh)  =  Conquering 
Voyant  iywoyanh)  =  Seeing. 

N  B.  Never  say  "  Je  suis  eci-ivant  "  for  "  I  am  writing. "  That  construc- 
tion is  not  used  iti  French.  There  is  only  one  forni  of  the  Present  Tense. 
|[Je  porte"^^means  "I  carry."  and  also  "I  am  carrying."^  "Je  finis," 
"  I  finish,"  *'  I  am  finishing,"  "  Je  reqois  "  =  "  I  receive  "  and  "  I  am  receiv- 
ing "  "J'^cris"  =  "  I  am  writing,"  etc..  etc. 


SOLDIERS '  SPOKEN  rRENCH 


Paet  in. 


SOME  USEFUL  PHRASES. 

GREETINGS. 
The  words  *' Monsieur, "  ''Madame/'  or  "Mademoiselle" 
should  be  added  to  "Bonjour/'  "bonsoir/'  and  also  to  most 
phrases- 


Engllsh. 


I  beg  your  pardon 
Allow  -me 
How  are  you! 

Pretty  well,  thank 
you 

I  bave  a  cold 

Give  my  kind  re- 
gards    to     your 
mother  —  your 
brother 


Goodbye 


Trench. 


Pardon 

Pennettez-moi 
Comment  cela 

va-t-il? 
Assez  bien  merci 

J'ai  irn  rhmne 
Faites  mes  amities 
a  madame  votre 
mere  —  a  mon- 
sieur votre  frere 


Au  revoir 
A  tantot 


Proniinciation. 

Pardonh 

Fairmeitay  mwar 
KomovJi  s'lar 

'varieel^ 
Assay  bienh  mairsee 

■ZJiay  ernh  riime 

Fate  maizammee- 
flay  za  madamm 
voir    mair  —  ar 
m  'syeur     voir 
fraer 

O  rervwar 

Ar  tonhtoe 


Have  you  seen  my 

regiment? 
Go  straight  on 
Which  is  the  best 

way? 
What  town  is  this? 


ASEJNG  ONE'S  WAY. 

Avez-vous  vu  mon 

regiment? 
Allez  tout  droit 
Quel  estlemeilleur 

chemin? 
Quelle    est   cette 

viUe? 


Away  voo  vii  monk 

rezheemonh 
Allay  too  drwar 
Kel  ay  ler  may-yeur 

sh  'maiih 
Kel  ay  sett  veel 


90 


SOLDIERS'  SPOKEN  FRENCH 


Does  tliis  road  lead 
to  the  river? 

A.re  there  any  lulls 
to  go  up? 

Xn  the  hill  long- 
steep? 


Estrce    que    cette 

rue   m§ne   a  la 

rividre? 
Y  a-t-il  des  cotes  a 

monter? 
La  colline  est-elle 

longue — ^raide? 


Ayce    leer   sett   r^ 

mane     ar     lar 

riveeair 
Ee  art  eel  day  coat 

sar  monhtay 
Lar  kolleen  ait  ell 

lonhg — rayd'i 


N.B.    In  asking  a  queation  with  a  noun,  the  pronoun  is  also  used,  as 


Is  the  town  large 
or  small? 

Is  the  bridge  far 
from  here? 

Which  is  the  short- 
est way  to  go 
to- — ? 

Which  way  must  I 
(we,  you,  they, 
etc.)  go? 

Take  the  first 
street  on  the 
left,  then  the 
second  on  the 
right. 

Follow  the  railway 
line 

Follow  the  tele- 
graph line 

Cross  the  bridge 

The  regiment  is  to 
the  north— south 
— east — west 

Where  i&  the  firing 
line? 


La  viUe  est-elle 
grande  ou  petite? 

Le  pout  est-il  loin 
d'ici? 

Quel  est  le  chemin 
le  plus  court 
pour  aller  a — ? 

Par     oti     faut-il 
aller? 

Prenez  la  premiere 
rue  ^  gauche, 
puis  la  deuxidme 
^  droite. 

Suivez  la  ligue  d6 
cliemin  de  f  er 

Suivez  le  fil  tele- 

graphique 
Traversez  le  pout 
Lq  n;giment  est  au 

nord  —  sud  —  a 

rest — k  Touest 
Ou  est  la  ligne  de 

feu? 


Lar  veel  ait  ell 
gronhd  oo  perteet 

Ler  ponh  ait-eel 
Iwanh  deesee 

Eel  ay  ler  sh  'manh 
ler  plii  IcGor  poor 
allay  ar 

Tar  00  fo  teel  allay 


Prennay  lar  premm- 
yair  ru  ar  gosch, 
pwee  lar  derz-e- 
em  ar  drwart 

Sweevay  lar  leen 
der  sh^manh  de 
fair 

Sweevay  le  feel 
telaygrafeeh 

Travairsay  ler  ponh 

Le  resheemonh  c 
toe  nor  —  sUd-- 
ar  lest — arlwest 

Oo  ay  lar  leefi  der 
fer 


SOLDIERS'  SPOKEN  FRENCH 


91 


Can  you  direct  me 
to  the  English 
Tegiment  ? 

Have  you  seen  any 
English  soldiers? 

Yes  (sir)  cross  the 
river  and  you 
mil  find  them 

Here,  there 
In  front  of  you 
Behind  you 
Go  that  way 
Over  there 
Come  here 
It  is  a  kilometre 
(away) 


What  weather  is  it? 

It  is  fine 

The     weather     is 

fine. 
li  is  warm 
It  is  cold 
It  is  bad 
It  is  wipdy 
It  is  fitie,  the  sun 

shires,    and    all 

is  \>right 
It    is     bad,     the 

weather      is 

stormy 
<t  la  very  windy 


Pouvez-vous  me 
diriger  au  regi- 
ment anglais? 

Avez-vous  vn  des 
soldats  anglaic? 

Oui  monsieur,  tra- 
versez  la  riviere 
et  vous  les  trou- 
verez 

Ici,  la 

Devant  vous 

Den^:;^e  vous 

Allez  par  la 

La  bas 

Venez  ici 

C'est  a  un  kilo- 
mdtre 

THE  "WEATHER. 
Quel  temps  f  ait-il? 
II  fait  beau  temps 
Le  temps  est  beau 

H  fait  cbaud 
H  fait  froid 
H  fait  mauvais 
II  fait  du  vent 
II    fait    beau,    ie 

soleil   brille,    et 

tout  est  gai 
H  fait  mauvais,  le 

temps      est      a 

Forage 
H    fait    beaucoup 

de  vent 


Poovay  voomer  dee- 
reezhay  o  rezliee- 
mo'iih  tonglay 

Away  voo  vii  day 
soldarzcnglay 

Weeh  m'syeur,  Pro- 
vairsayla  riveeair 
ay  voo  lay  trou- 
veray 

Eesee,  lar 

Bevvanli  voo 

Derryair  voo 

Allay   par  lar 

Lar  bar 

Vennayzeesee 

Sayt  ar  ernh  JciUO' 
maytr 


Kel  tenh  faiieel 
Eel  fay  bo  tenh 
Ler  tenh  ay  ho 

Eel  fay  show 

Eel  fay  frwar 
Eel  fay  movvay 
Eel  fay  dii  venh 
Eel    fay     bo,     ler 

solay    breeh,    ay 

too  tay  gay 
Eel  fay  movvay,  ler 

tenh  ay  tar  lor- 

rarshe 
Eel  fay  bolcoo  der 

venh 


92 


SOLDIEBS'  SPOKEN  FRENCH 


ASKING  FOR  BED,  BREAKFAST,  LUNCH,  DINNER, 
SHAVE  AND  HAIR-CUT. 


I     want     a     bed- 

Je   desirerais    (or 

Zher  deseereray  zun 

room 

desire)     una 
chambre   a 
coucher 

shomtr  ar  Tcooshaif 

I  am  a  soldier,  I 

Je  suis  soldat,  je 

Zher  swee  solldar. 

have  no  luggage 

n'ai      pas      de 

zher  nay  par  der 

bagages 

haggarzh 

I     have     only     a 

Je      n'ai      qu'un 

Zher     nay     Tcernh 

small  bag 

petit  sac 

■pertee  sacTc 

This  is  your  room, 

Void  votre  cham- 

V war  ci  voir  shonxbr. 

sir 

bre,  monsieur 

m  'syeur 

What    number     is 

Quel  numero   est 

Kel  numairo  ayce 

it? 

ce? 

Number   35 

Numero-  quinze 

Niimairo  Tcai(r)nhs 

Send  up  some  hot 

Faites-moi  monter 

Fate    mwar    monh 

water 

de  I'eau  chaude 

tay  der  lo  showed 

Let    me    have    a 

Faites-moi    porter 

Fate   mwar  portay 

clean  towel 

ime       serviette 
propre 

iin  sairvyett  propfr 

What       time      is 

A  quelle  heure  est 

Ar   hell    eur   a  le 

breakfast,  lunch, 

le  premier 

premmeay     day- 

dinner? 

dejeuner,  le 

jernay,  le  s'konh 

second  dejeuner, 

dayjernay,  l&r 

le  diner? 

deenay 

How  much  are  the 

Quel    est   le    prix 

Kell  ay  ler  pree  day 

rooms? 

des  chambres? 

shom'hr 

How      much       is 

Combien  le  diner? 

Korahienh  ler 

dinner? 

deenay 

Have     you     note- 

Avez-vous       du 

Away       voo      dii 

paper    and    en- 

papier  a   lettre 

pap-yay  ar  letir 

velopes? 

et     des      en- 
veloppes? 

a.  dayzonhvellop 

Bring  me  the  bill 

Apportez-moi      la 

Apportay  mwar  lar 

L     note. 

not 

soldiers'  spoken  fesnch 


93 


Call  me  at  7  o'clock 

When  does  tlie 
train  leave? 

You  must  (one 
must)  be  at  the 
station  at  half- 
past  8 

I  want  some  to- 
bacco 

I  also  want  my 
hair  cut 

I  want  a  shave 

I  want  to  buy  an 
English  paper 


Do     you     speak 
English! 

I  am  English,  I 
only  speak  a 
little   French. 

I    do    not    under- 
stand you 
Speak  more  slowly 

Speak   louder 

Do  you  not  under- 
stand me? 

Yes.  I  understand 
you  now. 


ReveiUez-moi       a 

sept  heures 
A  quelle  heure  le 

train  part-il? 
n  faut  etre  a  la 

gare      a      huit 

heures  et  demie 

Je     voudrais.    du 

tabac 
Je  veux  aussi  me 

fairs  couper  les 

cheveux 
Je  veux  me  faire 

raser 
Je  desire   achetcr 
un    journal 

anglais 

SPEAK  FRENCH. 

Parlez  vous 

Anglais? 

Je  suis  Anglais,  je 
ne  parle  qu'un 
peu  le  frangais. 

Je  ne  vous    com- 

prends  pas 
Parlez  plus  lente- 

ment 
Parley  plus  haut 
Ne  me  comprenez- 

vous  pas? 
*Si,  je  vous  com- 

prends  mainten- 

ant 


Bevay-yay  mwar  ar 

sett  eur 
Ar       Jcelleur       ler 

trainh  parteel 
Eel  fd  tatr  ar  lar 

garr  ar  weet  eur 

a  d'mee 

Zher    voodray    dil 

tahbar 
Zher  ver  zo-see  mer 

fair   Jcoopay  lay 

sh  'ver 
Zher  ver  mer  fair 

rarsay 
Zher   dayseer   ash- 

tay  ernh  zhoornal 

onglay 

Parlay  voo  zonglay 

Zher    sweezonglay, 

zher     ner    parle 

Icernh   '  per      le 

fronhsay 
Zher  ne  voo  Icom^- 

prenh  par 
Parlay   plil   lenht*- 

menh 
Parlay  plii  5 
Ner  mer  Tcompren- 

nay  voo  par 
See,  sJier  voo  Tcom- 

preiih     manht*- 

nanh 


f**Si:'  is  uged  instead  ot  •'oui"  after  @,  negative  question 


94 


soldiers'  spoken  FRENCff 


I  speak  just  a 
little. 

What  do  you  say? 

Speak  to  me  in 
English,  please. 

Do  you  know  any- 
one who  speaks 
English? 

But  you  speak 
French  very  well 

Help! 

Halt!     Who    goes 

there? 
Help  me. 
Give     me     some- 
thing to  drink 
Where      are     you 

wounded? 
I   am  wet  to   the 

skin  (bones) 
I     am     shivering 

with  cold. 
I    have    lost    my 

way. 
You    are   amongst 

friends. 
I    am    very   much 

obliged  to  you. 
You     have    saved 

my  life 
Give   me   a   sling, 


Bandage_my  hand 


Je  parle  un  petit 

peu 
Que  dites-vous? 
Parlez-moi  Anglais 

s'il  vous  plait 
Connaissez-vous 

queltiu'im    qui 

parle  anglais? 
Mais   vous  parlez 

tres      bien      le 

francais 
Au  secours! 
Halt!   Qui  va  la? 

Aidez-moi. 
Donnez      moi      a 

boire 
Ou        §tes-vous 

blesse? 
Je     suis     mouille 

jusqu'aux  os 
Je      grelotte     de 

froid 
Je  me  suis  egare 

Vous  etes  avec  des 

amis 
Je  vous  suis  bien 

oblige 
Vousm'avez  sauve 

la  vie 
Donnez-moi      une 

echarpe, s'il  vous 

plait 
Bacdez-moi     la 

main 


Zher      pan      ernh 

pertee  per 
Ker  deet  voo 
Parlaymwar  Onglay 

seel  vous  play 
Konnayssay       voo 

kelhernh  key  pari 

onglay 
May     voo     parlay 

tray     hienh     ler 

frayiJisay 
0  s'Tcour' 
Allt!    Key  var  lar 

Ayday  mwar 
Vonnay    mwar    ar 

bwarr 
Oo  ait  voo  hlessay 

Zher  swee  mou-yay 

zhusTcoze  oss 
Zher     grelott     der 

frwar 
Zher      mer      swee 

zaygaray 
Voosait  avek  days 

ammee 
Zher     vous     swee 

bienh  ohhleeshay 
Voo  mavvay  so-vay 

lar  vee 
Donnay    mtuar  .  iin 

aysharp  seel  voo 

play 
^anhday  mwar  lar 

manh 


SOLDIERS*  SPOKEN  FRENCH 


95 


You      are      badly 

Vous    avez    beau- 

Voo  zavvay  hokoo 

hurt 

coup  de  mal 

der  mal 

I  have  broken  my 

J'ai      la      jambe 

Zhay    lar    zharnhh 

leg 

cassee 

Tcassay 

I  cannot  walk 

Je  ne  puis  marclier 

Zher  ner  pwee 

marshay 

Do  not  be  afraid 

N'ayez  pas  peur 

Nayyay  par  purr 

You  won't  feel  any 

Vous    ne    sentirez 

Voo  ner  sanhteeray 

pain 

pas  de  douleur 

par  der  doolerr 

Your  collar-bone  is 

Vous  avez  la  clavi- 

Voo  zavvay  la  Tela- 

dislocated 

cule  disloquee 

veeTcule   deesloTcay 

We    are    going   to 

On  va  vous  porter 

Onh  var  voo  portay 

carry  you  to  the 

a  I'hopital 

ar  lopeetal 

hospital 

Rest  now 

Reposez-vous 

Rerpo-zay  voo 

maintenant 

manht'nanh 

Bring  a  stretcher 

Apportez  un  bran- 

Apportay zernh 

card 

trorih-Tcart 

Under  cover 

a  I'abri 

Ar  labhree 

Go  and  fetch  the 

Allez    chercher   le 

Allay  share-shay  ler 

doctor 

medecln 

med'sinh 

You     must      take 

H  faut  le  porter  a 

Eel  fo  ler  portay  ar 

him  to  the  hos- 

I'hopital 

lopeetal 

pital 

Where     are      you 

Ou  avez-vous  mal? 

Oo  avvay-voo  mal 

hurt? 

We   are   going   to 

Nous    allons   vous 

Noo     sallonh     voo 

cure  you. 

guerir 

ger-reer 

Run  quickly! 

Courez  vite! 

Kooray  veet! 

Quicker! 

Plus  vite! 

Tin  veet! 

Slower! 

Plus  lentement. 

Plii  lenhtmenh. 

Take   the   guns! 

Prenez  les  canons! 

Prennay  lay 

Tcanonhs! 

It     is     the     white 

C'est    le    pavilion 

Say   le   pavee-yonh 

flag. 

blanc. 

Uanh. 

SOLDIERS'  SPOKEN  FEENGH 


They    are    surren- 

lis se  rendent. 

Eel  ser  refohd. 

dering. 

Sound  the  advance 

Somiez  Pavance— 

Sonnay  lavvojihss. 

— retreat! 

la  retralte! 

— lar  rertrayt. 

Take  care   of  the 

Prenez    garde    du 

Prennay    gard    du 

shrapnel! 

shrapnel! 

shrapnell 

We    are    going   to 

Nous  aliens 

Noozallonhz 

attack. 

attaquer 

attakay. 

This   village   must 

Ce     village     doit 

Ser  veeyarsh  dwar 

accommodate  300 

caser  trois  cents 

Tear  say  trwiir  senh 

men. 

hommes. 

somm. 

I     want     quarters 

Je  veux  des  billets 

Zherveurday  beeyay 

for  officers. 

de  logement  pour 

der  loshmonh  poor 

des  officiers. 

day  zoffees'yay. 

Post  these  letters. 

Mettez  ces  lettres 

Mettay  say  lettr  ar 

^  la  poste. 

lar  posst 

We   stay  here   to- 

Nous   restons    ici 

Noo  restonh  zeesee 

night. 

cette  nuit. 

sett  nwee. 

Pitch   tents! 

Dressez  les  ten  test 

Dressay  lay  tonht! 

Water  the  horses. 

Donnez  a  boire  aux 

Donnay  sar  biuar  a 

chevaux. 

sh'vo. 

Feed  the  horses. 

Donnez   ^  manger 

Donnay  zar  manh- 

aux  chevaux. 

zhay  6  sh'vo. 

Make  a  fire. 

Faites  du  feu. 

Fate  du  fer 

Lights  out! 

Eteignez  la 

Aytayliay  lar 

lumi^re! 

liimyairf 

Lay  the  cloth 

Mettez  le  couvert. 
MEALS  AND  FOOD. 

Mettay  lev  koovair. 

Apple 

pomme,  f. 

pomm 

Appetiser 

hors  d'oeuvre,  m. 

or-dervr 

Bacon 

lard,  m. 

larr 

Beef 

bCBUf,  m. 

berf 

Brains 

cervelles,  f. 

sairvell 

Bread-crumbs  (with) 

^  au  gratin 

6  grattinh 

SOLDIERS'   SPOKEN  FRENCH 


07 


Chicken 

coa 

Duck 
Fish 
Gravy 
Ham 
Hare 
Kidney- 
Lamb 

Leg  of  mutton 
Lemon  squash 
Lobster 
Mutton 
Pear 
Plum 
Pork 
Potato 
Rabbit 
Sauce 


Soda  and  milk 

Sole 

Soup   (clear) 

Soup  (Fr.  ordinary) 

Soup  (thick) 

Strawberry 

Sweets  (puddings) 

Turkey 

Veal 

Vegetables 


volaille,  f.;  poulet, 

m. 
cabiUaud,  m. 
canard,  m. 
poisson,  ra. 
jus,  m. 
jambon,  m. 
lidvre,  f. 
rognon,  m. 
agneau,  m. 
gigot,  m. 
citron  frapp6,  m. 
homard,  m. 
mouton,  m. 
poire,  f. 
prune,  f. 
pore,  m. 

pomme  de  terre,  f. 
iapin,  m. 
sauce,  f. 
saucisses,  f . 
lait  et  siphon 
sole,  f. 

consomme,  m. 
pot-au-f  eu,  m. 
potage,m.,  soupe,  f. 
fraise,  f. 
entremets,  m. 
dinde,  f.;   dindon, 

m-. 
veau,  m. 
legumes 


voll-T;  poolay 

kahee-yo 

kanar 

pwarsonh 

shit 

sTiamJihonh 

Iceayvr 

ronionh 

an-o 

sJiee-go 

seetronh  frappay 

ommar 

mootonh 

pwarr 

priin 

porr 

pomm  der  tair 

lappinh 

so-ss 

s6-sis3 

lay  ay  seefonh 

sole 

konhsommay 

pot-O'fer 

potarzh,  soup 

frayze 

enhtrermay 

dinhd,  dinhdonh 

vo 
leggilin 


Note  on  Pronunciation. 
Eemember,   the    phonetic    pronunciation    is    written    in 
English  spelling.     The  same  stress  should  be  laid  by  the 
beginner  on  each  syllable  in  French. 


98 


soldiers'  spoken  FRENCH 


Pakt  IV. 

VOCABULAEY  OF  MILITARY  AND 
OEDINARY  WORDS. 


English. 

French. 

Pronunciation. 

Abandon 

abandonner 

obonMonnay 

Abdomen 

ventre 

vanhtr 

Able  (to  be) 

V.  pouvoir 

poovwar 

About 

prep,  autour  de 

otour  der 

Above 

prep,  au  dessus  de 

6  dessil  der 

Accuse 

V.  accuser 

aJcTcusay 

Ache 

n.  mal 

mal 

Across 

a  travers 

ar  travvair 

Action 

n.  action,  f .  bataille, 

aksionh,     tatt-t, 

f.  combat,  m.(nav) 

TcomJibar 

Action  (killed  in) 

tue  a  I'enneml 

tuay  ar  lennmee 

Act  of  bravery 

action  d' eclat 

aksionh  dayTclar 

Adjutant 

adjudant 

azhudonh 

Admiral 

amiral 

ammeerall 

Admit 

admettre 

admettr 

Advance 

V.  avancer 

avanhsay 

Aeroplane 

aeroplane,  m. 

oeroplarn 

Afield 

en  campagne 

enh  Icamhpine 

Afoot 

en  marche 

enh  marrsh 

Africa 

rAfrique 

laffreelc 

After 

apres 

appray 

Again 

encore 

anJikor 

Against 

centre 

Tcontr 

Age 

£ige 

arzTie 

Ago 

ily  a 

eel  ee  ar 

Aid 

aider,  assister 

ay  day,  assist  ay 

Aim 

viser                      ; 

vimy 

soldiers'  spoken  FRENCH 


99 


EngUsh. 

Frencli. 

Pronunciation. 

Aim!  (take) 

visez! 

vizay 

Air 

n.  air  m. 

airr 

Alarm 

alarme 

alarrm 

Alive 

vivant 

vcevonh 

All 

tout,    toute,    tous, 

too,  toot,   too, 

toutes 

toot 

All  people 

tout  le  monde 

too  ler  monhd 

Allow 

permettre 

pairmettr 

Alone 

adj.  seul,  e 

serl 

Along 

prep,  le  long  de 

ler  lonh  der 

Already 

deja 

dayzhar 

Also 

aussi 

o-see 

Altogether  (quxte) 

tout  a  fait 

tootar  fay 

Always 

toujours 

toozhoor 

Ambulance 

n.  ambulance,  f. 

ojihhiilonhss 

Ambush. 

embuscade,  f. 

enhbusskard 

American 

Americain,  e 

amerriTcanh 

Ammunition 

munitions 

muneesionh 

Among 

parmi 

parmee 

Amputation 

amputation 

onhpiitarsionh 

Anassthetic 

anestliesique 

annesstayzeek 

Anchor 

ancre,  f . 

onJikr 

Angry 

fache,  e 

farshay 

Another 

un    autre,    Tun 
1' autre 

ernotr;  lernh  lotf 

Answer 

V.  repondre 

rayponhdr 

Answer 

n.  reponse  f. 

rayponhss 

Any 

quelque;  du,  de  la, 
des 

Tcelker 

Appetite 

appetit,  m. 

appertee 

Apple 

pomme,  f . 

pom 

Api)roach 

s'approcher  (de) 

sapproshay 

April 

avril,  m. 

avreel 

Arm  (weapon) 

arme,  f. 

arrm 

100 


soldiers'   spoken  FRENCH 


English. 

rrench. 

Pronunciation. 

Arm  (to) 

V.  aimer 

arr7/iay 

Arms  reversed 

rarmesousle  bras 

I  'arrm  soo  ler  hrar 

Armour-plated 

blinde,  cuirasse 

blernhday, 

* 

kweerassay 

Army 

armee,  f. 

arrmay 

Around 

autaiir  de 

otoor  der 

Arrest 

V    arreter.  mettre 

array tay;  mettr 

aux  urrets 

osarray 

Arrival 

arrivee,  f . 

arreevay 

Arrive 

arriver 

arreevay 

As 

comme 

kom 

Ascend 

monter 

monhtay 

Ashore  (to  go) 

V,  deharquer 

dayharJcay 

Ask 

demander 

dejnonMay 

Asleep 

endormi 

onhdormee 

Asleep  (to  be) 

dormir 

dorme&r 

Assault 

assaut,  m. 

asso 

Astonish 

etonner 

aytonnay 

At 

a,  en,  dans,  chez 

Attack 

attaque,  f. 

at-tack 

Attempt 

essayer 

essayay 

Attention! 

garde  a  votis! 

gard  ar  voo 

Aunt 

tante,  f. 

tanU 

Australian 

AustraUen 

ostralienh 

Austrian 

autricbien 

otreesMenh 

Autumn 

autorPTie,  m. 

otonn 

Avenge 

v.venger 

vanhzhay 

Aviator 

aviateur,  m. 

avveatteur 

Avoid 

6viter 

ayveetay 

Await 

attendre 

attonhdr 

Awake 

s'eveiller 

sayvayyay 

Away- 

loin 

Iwarih 

Awful 

terrible 

terreehl 

Axle, 

essiexi,  m. 

essieur 

sc 

LDIERS'  SPOKEN  FRENCH                                   101 

FrenciL 

Frencli. 

Pronunciation. 

Baby 

bebe 

hehhay 

Back 

adv.  en  arridre 

onarryair 

Background 

arridre  plan 

arryair  plonh 

Bacon 

lard  m. 

larr 

Bad 

mauvals,  e 

movvay,  movvase 

Badge 

brassard,  m. 

hrassar 

j> 

(ofiacer's)  Insigne 

anJiseen 

Badly 

adv.  mal 

mal 

Bag 

sac,  m. 

sach 

Baggage 

bag  ages,  m.  pi. 

laggarzh 

Baker 

boulanger 

hoolanlishay 

Bald 

chauve 

showv 

Ball  (cannon) 

boulet,  m. 

hoolay 

Ballast 

lest,  m. 

lest 

Balloon 

ballon,  m.^ 

lallonh 

Band 

musiqne,  £s 

muzeeh 

Bandage 

bandage,  n^ 

hanlidarzh 

Bandsman 

soldat  musicien 

soldar  miisissienh 

Bar  (of  medal) 

barrette,  f. 

har-rett 

Barbed  wire 

fil  de  fer  barbete, 

feel  der  fair 

m. 

harhtay 

Barbed  wire  clipper 

rogneur  de  fil,  etc. 

roneur  der  feel,  etc 

Barbed    wire    en- 

resaux de  fil,  etc. 

rezo  der  feel,  etc. 

tanglements 

Bareback 

a  poll 

ar  pwarl 

Barracks 

caserne  f. 

hazairn 

(cavalry)  quartier 

Tcartiay 

Basin 

cuvette,  f. 

kiivett 

Bath 

bain,  m. 

hainh 

Bathe 

V.  se  baigner 

set  lainay 

Battalion 

bataillon,  m. 

hat-U-yonh 

(i  as  in  mine) 

Battery 

batterle,  f . 

batteree  or  bat'ree 

Battle 

bataille,  f . 

hatt'% 

102 


SOLDIEBS'  SPOKEN  FRENCH 


English. 

French. 

Pronunciation. 

Battle 

combat,  m. 

TcomJibar 

„       (to  give) 

livrer  bataille 

leevray  batt-l 

Bayonet 

haicnette,  m. 

hi-yonett 

Beard 

barbe,  f. 

harrb 

Bearer  (flag  of  truce) 

parlementaire,  m. 

parlermonhtair 

Beat 

hattre 

battr 

Beautiful 

beau,  bel,  belle 

bo,  bell 

Because 

parce  que 

parss  leer 

Become 

devenir 

devenneer 

Bed 

lit,  m. 

lee 

Beef 

bceuf,  m. 

berf 

Beer 

biere,  f . 

beairf 

Before 

devant  (place) 

dcvvonh 

avant  (time) 

avvoiih 

Begin 

commencer 

Icommonhsay 

Behind 

derrl^re 

derryair 

Belgian 

beige 

belzJi 

Belgium 

Belgique 

BelzJieeh 

Believe 

croire 

Tcrwar 

Bell 

cioche,  f. 

Jclosh 

Belongs 

appartient 

appartienh 

Belt 

ceinturon,  m. 

sanMuronh 

Beneath 

sous 

SOO 

Best 

le  meilleur,  e 

ler  may-yeur 

Between 

entre 

onhtr 

Beware 

prenez  garde  de 

prennay  qard  der 

Beyond 

an  dela  de 

0  delar  der 

Bicycle 

bicycle,  bicyclette 

beeseeU,    beesee- 
Uett 

billeting  order 

billet  de  logement, 

bee-yay  der 

* 

m. 

lozhmenh 

Bind 

Uer 

leeyay 

Bind  (a  prisoner) 

garrotter 

garrottay 

Bird 

oiseaUf  m. 

wah'So 

SOLDIERS'  SPOKEN  FRENCH 


103 


English. 

FrenciL 

Pronunciation. 

Bit 

morceau,  m. 

morso 

Bite 

mordre 

mordr 

Black 

noir 

71  war 

Blade  of  »woTd 

lame,  f . 

larm 

Blanket 

couverture,  m. 

Tcoovairtiire 

Bleed 

saigner 

sainay 

Blood 

sang,  m. 

sonh 

Blow 

coup,  m. 

Tcoo 

(swordthrust) 

coup  d'epee,  m. 

loo  daypay 

(whistle-blast) 

coup  de  sifflet,  m. 

koo  der  sifflay 

Board 

planche,  f . 

plonhsh 

Boat 

bateau,  m. 

batto 

Body 

corps,  m. 

kor 

Bolt  (horse) 

V.  s'emporter, 

sonhportay, 

s'emballer 

sonlallay 

Bomb 

bombe,  f. 

hornJi'b 

Bone 

OS,  m. 

OSS 

Boot 

botte,  bottine,  f. 

bott,  boiteen 

Bora 

ne,  e 

nay 

Both 

les  deux,  tous  les 

lay  deur, 

deux 

too  lay  dewr 

Bottle 

bouteille,  f. 

bootdy 

Bottom 

bas,  fond,  m. 

bar,  fonh 

Bow 

salut,  m. 

sallii 

Bowel 

intestin,  m. 

inhtestinh 

Bowl 

bol,  m. 

bol 

Box 

boite,  f. 

bicart 

Boxing 

la  boxe 

lar  box 

Boy 

garcon 

garssonh 

Boy   (little) 

enfant,  el^ve 

onhfayih,  aylayve 

Braces 

bretelles,  f. 

brettell 

Brandy 

eau  de  vie,  f. 

0  der  vee 

Brave 

brave 

brarv 

Bravery 

bravoure,  f . 

brarvoor 

104 


SOLDIERS '  SPOKEN  FRENCH 


English. 


Break 

Breakfast 

Breathe 

Breeches 

Bridge 

Bridge  (to  build  a) 

Bridle 

Brief 

Brigade 

Brigadier-general 

Bright 

Bring 


British 

Broad 

Broken 

Brook 

Broom 

Brussels 

Brutal 

Bucket 

Build 

Built 

Bull's  eye  (target) 

Bundle 

Burn 

Burst 

Bush 

Business 

Busy 


Trencli. 


V.  casser 
dejeuner,  m. 
V.  respirer 
culottes,  f. 
pent,  m. 
jeter  nn  pent 
bride,  f. 
bref,  breve; 
court,  e 
brigade,  f ., 
general  de  brigade 
brillant 
V.    apporter    (to 

carry  to) 
amener(to  lead  to) 
britannique 
large,  grand 
casse 

ruisseau,  m. 
brosse,  f. 
Bruxelles 
brutal,  e 
seau,  m. 
batir  (ships), 
construire 
bati 

mouche,  f. 
paquet,  m.   (hay), 

botte  f . 
bruler 
eclater 
buisson,  m. 
affaire,  f. 
occupe 


Prontmciation. 

Tcassay 

day-zher-nay 

respeeray 

Jcii-lott 

ponh 

zliettay 

breed 

breff,   brave; 

hour,  kourt 

bregard 

zhaynayrdl  de  — 

bree-yonh 

opportay 

aimn'nay 

britanneeTc 

larzhe,  gronh 

Tcassay 

rweesso 

bross 

Brucksell 

brutall 

so 

barteer 

Iconlistrweef 

bar-tee 

moosh 

paJcay, 

bott 

briday 

ayhlatay 

bweessonh 

affair 

oMpay 


SOLDIERS'  SPOKEN  FRENCH 


105 


English. 


Butt   (of  rifle) 

Button 

Buy 

By 

Cabbage 

Cable 

Calf 

Calf   (leg) 

Call 

Camp 

Campaign 

Camp-kettle 

Can  (to  be  able) 

Can  (lie) 

Canadian 

Canal 

Candle 

Cannot 

Canteen 

Cap  (mil.) 

Captain 

Car   (balloon) 

Car  (motor) 

Carburettor 

Care 

Carriage 

Carry 

Carry  away 

Cart 

Cartridge 

Casualty 

Cat 

Catch 


French. 

Pronunciation. 

crosse,  f. 

cross 

bouton,  m. 

hootonh 

V.  acheter 

asshtay 

par 

parr 

chou,  m. 

shoo 

cable,  m. 

kail 

veau 

v6 

mollet,  m. 

mollay 

appeler 

appellay 

camp,  m. 

Jconh 

campagne,  f. 

kanlipine 

marmite,  f. 

mar  meet 

V.  pouvoir 

poovwar 

11  peut 

eel  per 

Canadien,  m. 

kanardienh 

canal,  m. 

kannal 

bougie,  f. 

hoozJiee 

chandelle,  f . 

shonhdel 

nc  peut  pas 

ner  per  par 

cantine,  f . 

konhteen 

n.  kepi,  m. 

kaypee 

capitaine 

kappeetain 

nacelle,  f. 

nas-sell 

automobile,  f . 

otomoheel 

carburateur,  m. 

karhilrarteur 

soin,   m. 

swanh 

voiture,  f . 

vwartiir 

porter 

portay 

enlever,  v. 

enliJevay 

voiture,  f . 

cartouche,  f. 

kartoosh 

perte,  f . 

pairrt 

chat,  m. 

shar 

attraper,  saisir 

attrapay,  sayzeer 

106 


SOLDIERS '  SPOKEN  FRENCH 


English. 

French. 

Pronunciation. 

Cauliflower 

chou-fleur,   m. 

slioo-fleurr 

Cease  fire! 

Cessez  le  feu! 

Sessay  ler  fer! 

Cellar 

cave,  f. 

karv 

Censor 

censeur,  ra. 

sejihseurr 

Chain 

chains,  f . 

sliayne 

Challenge 

crier  qui  vive 

Icreeay  key  veev 

Chamber  (room) 

chamhre,  f. 

sliomhr 

Change 

V.  changer 

slianshay 

Change-speed-gear 

changement  de 

shonsliemonh    der 

Vitesse 

veetess 

Chaplain 

aumonier 

omoneay 

Charge 

charge,  f. 

sheer  £lie 

Charge  (to) 

charger,  v. 

sharzhay 

Chat 

V.  causer 

kosay 

Cheap 

hon  marche 

honh  marshay 

Cheat 

V.  se  tromper 

ser  tronhpay 

Cheerful 

gai 

gay 

Cheering 

applaudissements, 

applodissmonh 

Chemist 

m. 
pharmacien,  m. 

farmassienU 

Cherry 

cerise,  f. 

sereeze 

Chicken  (or  fowl) 

poulet,  m. 

poolay 

Child 

enfant 

onlifonh 

Choose 

choisir 

shioarzeer 

Chop 

cotelette,  f. 

kott-lett 

Christmas 

Noel,  m. 

no-ell 

Church 

egUse,  f . 

aygleeze 

Claret 

bordeaux,  m. 

Jbordo 

Clean 

propre 

propr 

Clear 

Clair 

Jclair 

CHmb 

V  grimper 

granlipay 

Clock 

(large)  horloge,  f. 

orlozhe 

(small)  pendule  f. 

ponhdiil 

Close  up  (to) 

serrer  Jes  langs 

sairay  lay  rank 

SOLDIERS^  SPOKEN  FRENCH 


107 


English. 


Clothes 

Cloudy 

Clutch  (mot.) 

Colours  (mil.) 

Colour-sergeant 

Column 

Comb 

Command 

Common 

Company 

Conquest 

Consul 

Consult 

Continue 

Cook 

Cork 

Cork-serew 

Corn 

Corn  on  foot 

Corporal 

Cost 

Cotton 

Cough 

Could,  he 

Countersign 

Country 


Courtesy 
Cousin 
Cover  (n) 
Cover  (to  take) 
Cow 


French. 


habits,  m. 
nuageux,  sombre 
embrayage 
drapeau,  m. 
sergent-major 
colonne,  f 
p  eigne,  m. 
V.  commander 
ccmmun 
compagnie,  f. 
conquete,  f . 
consul,  m. 
consulter 
V.  continuer 
cuire 

bouchon,  m. 
tire-bouchon,  m. 
ble,  m. 
cor,  m. 
caporal,  m. 
V.  cotiter 
coton,  m. 
toux,  f . 

pouvait,  a  pu,  il 
mot,  m. 
(general  term) 

pays,  m. 
(not  town) 

campagne,  f. 
politesse,  f. 
cousin,  e 
convert,   m. 
s'abriter,  v. 
vache,  f. 


Pronunciation. 

abhee 

nuarzheur,  sonkhr 

ohnbrayarzh 

drappo 

sairzJiojiJi-marzhor 

Icollonn 

payne 

Tcommanhday 

Jcommunh 

Tcompi-nee 

JconhTcate 

Iconhsiil 

Jconhsiiltay 

Jcontiniiay 

Tcweer 

booshonh 

teerr  — • 

May 

Tcorr 

kapporal 

Tcootay 

Jcottonh 

too 

poovay,  ar  pii,  eel 

mo 

pay-ee 

Iconhpine 

polleetess 

Tcouziiih,  Tcouzeen 

Icoovair 

sdbhreetay 

varsh 


108 


SOLDIERS  *  SPOKEN  FRENCH 


EngUsh. 

French. 

Pronunciation. 

polltronh 

Coward 

poltron 

Cream 

creme,  f . 

Icrame 

Cross  (to) 

croiser,  v. 

hrwarzay 

Crush  (to) 

^eraser,  v. 

aylcrarzay 

Crutch 

bequille,  f . 

layJcee 

Cure  . 

gu^rison,  f . 

guerrizonh 

Cut  to) 

couper,  V. 

Jcoopay 

Cyclist 

cycliste 

seeMeest 

Dam 

barrage,  m. 

harrarzh 

Damp 

bumide 

iimeed 

Dane 

Danois 

danwar 

Danger 

danger,  m. 

donhzhay 

Dare 

oser 

ozay 

Dark 

obscur,  noir 

ohsTciir,  nwar 

Darkness 

nuit,  f . 

nwee 

Date 

date,  f. 

datt 

Date  (fruit) 

datte,  f. 

datt 

Daughter 

fiUe,  f . 

fee-e 

Day 

jour,  m. 

shoor 

Day  (whole) 

journee,  f. 

zJioornay 

Day's  march 

etape,  f. 

aytap 

Deaf 

sourd,  e 

soor,  soord 

Dear 

Cher,  chere 

share 

Death 

mort,  f . 

more 

Debt 

dette,  f. 

dett 

Deck  (of  ship) 

pont,  m. 

ponh 

Deed 

action,  f.,  fait,  m. 

aJcsionh,  fay 

Deep 

prof  ond,  e 

profonJi 

Defeat 

defaite,  f . 

dayfate 

Defence 

defense,  f. 

dayfonhse 

Defend  (forbid) 

defendre 

dayfonhdr 

Demand 

demander, 

dermonhday, 

r^clamer 

rayJclamoy 

Dentist 

dentiste 

donhteest 

60LDIEBS'  SPOKEN  FRENCH 


109 


English. 

French. 

Pronunciation. 

Deny 

V  nler 

neeay 

Depart 

partlr 

parfeer 

Depth 

profondeur,  f. 

profonhderr 

Descend 

descendre 

dessonMr 

Deserve 

meriter 

mayreetay 

Desire 

desirer 

dayseeray 

Despatch 

n.  d^peche,  f. 

daypaysh 

Destroy 

detmire 

daytrweer 

Detachment 

detachement,  m. 

daytashmonh 

Die 

V.  mourlr 

mooreer 

Difficult 

difficile 

diffeeseel 

Dig 

V.  creuser 

krersay 

Dine 

V.  diner 

deenay 

Dining-car 

wagon-restaurant  m. 

vargonh-restoronh 

Dinner 

diner,  m. 

deenay 

Dip  (aeroplane) 

piquer 

peekay 

Dirty 

sale 

sal 

Discharge 

decharge,  f. 

daysharzh 

(firearms) 

Discover 

decouvrir,  v 

dayhoovreer 

Disguise  (in  war) 

n.  camouflage 

kamooflarzh 

Dismount! 

pied  ^  terre! 

piay  dar  lair 

Distance 

distance,  f. 

deestonhss 

Ditch 

fosse,  m. 

fossay 

Dive  (aero.) 

plonger 

plonhzhay 

Double 

double 

doo'bl 

Down 

adv.  en  bas 

onh    hat 

Down   (get) 

descendezi 

dessonhday 

Do,  make 

faire 

fair 

Done 

fait 

fay 

Drill 

V.  exercer 

exairsay 

Drinking-water 

eau  potable,  f. 

0  potarhl 

Drive  off 

chasser,  v. 

shassay 

Driver 

conducteur 

konJidukterr 

110 


SOLDIERS'  SPOKEN  FRENCH 


Englisli. 

French. 

Prommciation. 

Dry 

sec,  seche 

seek,  sessh 

"Dug  out'* 

casemate-abri,  f. 

hazmart  abhree 

During 

pendant 

ponhdanh 

Dutch 

Hollandais 

oll-onhday 

Earth,  ground 

terre,  f. 

tair 

Earthworks 

terrassement,  m. 

terrcLSsmonh 

Easy 

facile 

faseel 

Elder 

aine 

aynay 

Embarking 

embarquement,  m. 

OJihbarkmonh 

Empty 

vide 

veed 

Encamp 

camper 

konhpay 

End 

fin,  f . 

fainh 

Engagement 

a<;tion,  f.;  affaire,  f. 

aksionh,  affair 

j> 

combat,  m. 

korribar 

Engine 

machine,  f. 

maslieen 

England 

Angleterre,  f . 

onhglertair 

Enlist 

enroler 

onlirolay 

Enough 

assez 

assay 

Enter 

entrer  dans 

onhtray  donh 

Envelope, 

enveloppe,  f. 

oiihvellop 

Epsom  salts 

sel  anglais,  m. 

sell  onhglay 

Equal 

egal 

aygal 

Equipment 

eqiiipement,  m. 

aykcepmonh 

Escape 

echapper  a 

ayshappay  ar 

Even 

meme 

maim 

Ever 

toujours,  jamais 

toochoor,  zhammay 

Excavate 

deblayer 

dayhloyay 

Exhaust  (mot.) 

echappement,  m. 

ayshapmonh 

Explode 

eclater 

ayklattay 

Express  train 

train  degrande 

tranh  der  gronhd 

Vitesse 

veetess 

Eyes  front! 

fixe! 

fe6x 

Fall  in! 

a  vos  rangs! 

ar  vo  ranh 

Fall  back  (to) 

se  retirer 

ser  rerteeray 

SOLDIERS '  SPOKEN  FRENCH 


111 


English. 

French. 

Pronunciation. 

Far 

loin 

Iwanh 

Fatigue  duty 

corvee,  f. 

korvay 

FeU  (a  tree) 

ahattre  (un  arhre) 

ahbatr 

Field 

cbamp,  m. 

shonh 

Field  day 

jour  d*  esercice 

zhoor  dexaircease 

Field  (in  the) 

en  campagne 

onh  Jcomhpine 

Field  hospital 

hopital  de  camp 

0  pit  all  der  kanh 

Field-marshal 

marechal 

marayshall 

Fight 

combat,  m. 

komJibar 

Fight  a  battle<to) 

livrer  une  bataille 

leevray  un  hatt-l 

Fighting  unit 

unite  de  combat,  f . 

iineetay  der  kombaf 

Find  (to),  think 

trouver 

troovay 

Fire 

feu,  m. 

fer 

Fireman 

chauffeur 

sJiowfur 

Fish 

poisson,  m. 

pwarssonh 

Fit-up  (to) 

monter 

monhtay 

Flag 

drapeau,  m. 

drappo 

Flag  (to  hoist) 

arborer 

arhoray 

Flag  of  truce 

drapeau  blanc 

drappo  hlonh 

Flagstaff 

hampe,  f. 

omhp 

Flee 

fuir;  s'enfuir,  v. 

fweer;  sonhfweer 

Fleet 

flotte,  f . 

fiott 

Flight 

fuite,  f. 

fu-eet 

Flour 

farine,  f. 

fareen 

Food 

vivres,  m. 

veevr 

» 

nourriture,  f. 

nooreetur 

For 

pour 

poor 

Ford 

gue,  m. 

gay 

Forest 

f  oret,  f . 

foray 

Forget 

oublier 

oohJeeay 

Fork 

fourchette,  f. 

foorshett 

Fort 

fort,  m. 

for 

Fortification 

fortification,  f. 

forteef  eekarsionh 

Forward! 

en  avant! 

onavanh 

112 


SOLDIERS '  SPOKEN  FRENCH 


English. 

Prench. 

Prontmciation. 

Found 

trouve 

troovay 

Fracture 

tracture,  m. 

fralctur 

Fresh 

frais,  fralche 

fray,  fraysh 

From 

de 

der 

Fruit 

fruits,  pi.,  m. 

frwee 

Fuse 

fus6e,  f. 

fiizay 

Gallop 

galoper,  v. 

gallopay 

Game 

jeu,  m. 

zher 

Garrison 

gamison,  f. 

garneezonh 

Gas 

gaz,  m. 

garz 

Gas-bag 

enveloppe,  f. 

onhvellop 

Gate 

porte,  f.;  grille,  f. 

port,  gree-e 

Gather 

assembler 

assornhblay 

Gay 

gai 

gay 

Gear 

engrenage,  m. 

onhgrennarzh 

Get 

obtenir,  avoir 

ohtenneer,  avvwar 

Get  up 

SB  lever 

ser  levvay 

Girdle  belt 

ceinture,  f. 

sinhtiir 

Girl 

fille,  f. 

fee-e 

Give 

donner 

donnay 

Glad 

bien  aise,  content 

hianayze,  Jconhtank 

Glass 

verre,  m. 

vair 

Glove 

gant,  m. 

gonh 

Go 

V.  aller 

allay 

Goal 

but,  m. 

hu 

Goat 

chdvre,  f. 

shayvr 

Goodness 

bonte,  f . 

bonhtay 

Goose 

Die,  f . 

wah 

Grapes 

raisins,  m. 

rayzinh 

Greece 

Grdce 

grayce 

Grey 

gris,  e 

gree,  greeze 

Guard 

garde,  f. 

garrd' 

Guard,  turn  out! 

aux  armes! 

ozarrm 

Gun  (small) 

fusil,  m. 

fiizee-e 

SOLDIEES'  SPOKEN  FRENCH 


113 


English. 


Gun   (large) 

Gun  cotton 

Gunner 

Halt! 

Ham 

Hand    (clock) 

Handful 

Handkerchief 

Harness 

Hay 

Heavy  artillery 

Hedge 

Hilt 

Hit  (on  target) 

Hoist  (flag) 

Horse 

Horseshoe 

Hospital 

Howitzer 

Hut 

Identification  disc 

Ignition 

In,  into 

Indeed! 

Indiambber 

Infantry 

Infantry  soldier 

Informaion 

Intelligence 

department 
Interesting 
Intrenched 
Ireland 


French. 


canon 

coton-pondre,    m. 
canonnier,  m. 
halte-UI 
jambon,  m. 
aiguille,  f. 
poignee,  f. 
mouchoir,  m. 
hamais,  m. 
foin,  m. 

grosse  artillerie 
haie,  f. 
poignee,  f . 
coup  au  hut,  m. 
hisser,  v. 
cheval 

(pi.  chevaux) 
fer,  m. 
hopital,  m. 
obusier,  m. 
baraque,  f. 
plaque  d'identite 
allumage,  m. 
dans,  en 
vraiment! 
caoutciiouc,  m. 
infanterie,  f. 
piou-piou 
renseignement,  m. 
Service  des 

renseignements 
int^ressant 
retranch^ 
rirlande,  £. 


Prontmclation. 

karwrih 

kottonh  poodr 

Tcannonniay 

allt-l^T 

shomhonh 

aygwee 

pwoinay 

mooshwar 

armay 

fwonh 

gross  arteeyerie 

aye 

pwoinay 

Tcoo  o  hii 

eessay 

sh  'vail 

sh'vo 

fair 

oppeetal 

ohuzeay 

hararh 

plarlc  deedoiihteetay 

allumarzh 

donh,  onh 

may  monk 

kaowtchook 

inhfanJiteree 

peeou  peeou 

renhsaynemenh 

Sairveece  des 

renJisaynemenh 
anhtairessonh 
retrcnhshay 
leerlonhd 


114 


SOLDIERS'  SPOKEN  FRENCH 


Englisb. 

French. 

Pronunciation. 

Iron  (corrugated) 

tole  ondulee,  f. 

toll  onhdiilay 

Jack  (screw-) 

eric,  m. 

kreele 

Jam 

confiture,  f. 

konhfeetuT 

Japan 

le  Japon 

shapponh 

Join   (to) 

rejoiudre 

rerzhwarndr 

Kitchen 

cuisine,  f. 

kweeseen 

Knapsack 

havresac,  m. 

arvrersack 

Kneell 

genoTi  terre! 

shemoo  tair 

Knife  (pen) 

canif,  m. 

han-eef 

„       (table) 

couteau,  m. 

koo-toe 

Knife,    fork,    and 

couvert,  m. 

koovair 

spoon 

Know    (to) 

connaitre 

(a  person) 

konnaytr 

Ladder 

echelle,  f. 

ay -shell 

Lance-corporal 

8l^v8  caporal,  m. 

aylayve  kaporal 

Landing,  detraining 

debaiquement,  m. 

daybarkmenh 

Late 

tard 

tarr 

Leader 

chef,  m. 

sheff 

Leave 

cong6 

konhzhay 

Leave   (on) 

en  permission 

onh  pairmissiofiJl 

Left 

gauche 

gosch 

Lie  (to  tell  a) 

mentir,  v. 

menhteer 

Lie  down  (to) 

se  ccucher 

ser  koosliay 

Lieutenant 

lieutenant 

luTt  *nanh. 

Lighthouse 

phare,  m. 

far 

Like 

c  crime 

ko-m 

Lint 

charpie,  f. 

sharrpee 

Live   (exist) 

vivrs 

veevr 

Live  (in  a  place) 

deraeurer,  hal;iter 

dermerray; 

ahheetay 

Look   (at) 

regarder 

rergarday 

Look  out 

garde  a  vous 

gard  ar  voo 

Loosen  (to) 

lacher,  v. 

larshay 

SOLDIERS '  SPOKEN  FRENCH 


115 


English. 


Losses 

Lost 

Machine-gun 

Mane 

Map 

March  (to) 

March  (forced) 

March-past 

Mark  time! 

Match 

Medicine 

Military  man 

Mine 

Missing 

More 

Motor 

Motor-car 

Motor  cycle 

Mount! 

Much 

Muster 

Nasty 

Nearly 

Necessary 

Needle 

Never 

New  (new-made) 

Newspaper 

New  Zealand 


Next 
Nice 
Night 
Nobody 


French. 

Pronunciatioa. 

pertes,  f . 

pairt 

perdu 

pairdii 

mitrailleuse,  f . 

mitt-n-yerse 

crini^re,  f. 

Tcreeneair 

carte,  f. 

Tcarrt 

marcher 

marshay 

marche  forcee,  f. 

marsh  forrsay 

defile,  m. 

dayfeelay 

raarquez  le  pas 

marJcay  ler  par 

allumette,  f . 

alliimett 

medecine,  f. 

med*seen. 

militaire,  m. 

meeleetai^ 

mine,  f. 

rneen 

disparu 

deesparii 

plus 

plil 

moteur,  m. 

moturr 

aritomohile,  m. 

otomoheel 

moto  cyclette 

motoseeJclet 

a  cheval! 

ar  sh*vall 

heaucoup  de 

hokoo  der 

ramasser,  v. 

ramassay 

mauvais,  e 

movvay 

presque 

presslcer 

necessaire 

naysessair 

aiguille,  f. 

aygwee 

ne jamais 

ner. . .  .zhammay 

neuf,  neuve 

nerf,   nerve 

journal,  m.    * 

zJioornal 

la  Nouvelle 

nooyell  zaylonhd 

Zelande 

prochain,  e 

proshanhf  proshayn 

hon 

honh 

nuit,  f. 

nwee 

no       personne 

ner       pair-sonn 

116 


60LDIEES'  SPOKEN  FRENCH 


English. 

FtenclL 

Pronunciation. 

Norway 

la  Norvege,  f . 

norvayzhe 

Not 

ne pas 

ner.  . .  .par 

Nothing 

ne rien 

ner rienh 

November 

novembre,  m. 

novvanhhr 

Now 

maintenant 

manht  'nonh 

Number  (many) 

nombre,  m. 

norihhr 

Number   (of  man, 

house) 

numero,   m. 

nilmairo 

Number,  to 

numeroter 

niimerottay 

Nurse 

infirmifere,  garde- 
malade 

inhf  eermeair 

Nut  (screw) 

ecrou,  m. 

ayTcroo 

Nut  (to  eat) 

noix,  £. 

nwar 

Oats 

avoine,  f . 

avwoin 

Off  (to  take) 

oter 

otay 

Office 

bureau,  m. 

huro 

Officer 

officier 

offeesiay 

Often 

souvent 

soovanh 

Oil 

huile,  f . 

tveel 

Oil-can 

burette,  f. 

hilrett 

One  another 

Pun  Pautre 

lernh  lotr 

Pune  Pautre,  etc. 

liin  lotr 

Open 

ouvrir 

oovreer 

Open  (p.p.) 

ouvert 

oovair 

Order 

commander 

TcommanMay 

Orderly  (hospital) 

infirmier,  m. 

inhfeermeeay 

Other 

autre 

otr 

Outpost 

avant-poste,  m. 

avvonh  posst 

Overthrow 

culbuter,  v. 

kulbiitay 

Pace 

allure,  f . 

allurr 

Paper 

papier,  m. 

pap -y  ay 

Parade 

parade,  f. 

parard 

Parley  (to) 

parlementer 

parlermonhtay 

Paymaster 

tresorier 

traysoriay 

SOLDIEES'  SPOKEN  FBENCH 


117 


English. 

French. 

Prontmciation. 

Pay  (soldier's) 

solde,  f. 

solid 

Peace 

paix,  f. 

pay 

Pen 

plume,  f. 

plum 

Perhaps 

pent  etre 

pert  aytr 

Petrol 

essence,  f . 

essonhss 

Pick  (implement) 

pioche,  f . 

peeosh 

Piece 

morceau,  m. 

morso 

Pilot 

pilote,  m. 

pee-lott 

Pistol 

pistolet,  m. 

peestolay 

Plunder 

pillage,  m. 

pee-yarzh 

Pontoon 

ponton,  m. 

ponhtonh 

Powder 

poudre,  f. 

poodr 

Prisoner 

prlsonnier 

preesonniay 

Private 

simple  soldat 

sanhpl  soldat 

Quantity 

quantite,  f. 

konhteetay 

Quarrel  (to) 

quereller; 

Jcerrellay; 

se  disputer 

ser.  deespiitay 

Quart  (meas.) 

litre,  m. 

leetr 

Quarter  (4th) 

quart,  m. 

Tcarr 

Quarter   (to  give) 

faire  quartier 

fair  Tcartiay 

Quartered 

en  quartier 

cnh  kartiay 

Quay 

quai,  m. 

Tcay 

Queen 

reine,  f. 

rain 

Question 

question,  f . 

Jcesstionh 

Quick 

vif,  ardent 

veef,  arrdonh 

Quick  time 

pas  accelere 

parzaTcselleray 

Quickly 

vite 

veet 

Quiet 

tranquille 

ironhJceel 

Quiet!  (Bo) 

restez  tranquille! 

resiay  tronhJceel 

taisez-vous 

tayzay  voo 

Railway 

chemin  de  fer,  m. 

sheminli  der  fair 

Eailway  carriage 

voiture,  f. 

vvjartiir 

Eailway  van 

wagon,  m. 

vargonh 

Bain 

pluie,  t 

plwee 

118 


SOLDIERS'  SPOKEN  FRENCH 


Snglish. 


Eaise 

Eange   (within) 

Eank 

Eazor 

Eead 

Eeceipt 

Eecoil 

Eecruit  (pop.) 

Eecniit 

Eed  Cross 

Eeinforcement 

Eepulse 

Best  (to) 

Eetreat 

Return  (come  back) 

Eeview 

Eifle 

Eight 

Eight  turn! 

Eiver 

EoU-call 

Eoute  march 

Rule 

Bun 

Bush 

Saddle 

Salt 

Salute 

Salute  (to^ 

Saluting  the  colours 

Same   (the) 


French. 


Saturday 


lever;  soulever,  v. 
a  port6e 
rang,  m. 
rasoir,  m. 
lire 

regu,  m. 
reculer,  v, 
hleu,  m. 
recrue,  f . 
Croix  Eougc,  f. 
renfbrt,  m. 
echec,  m. 
se  reposer 
retraite,  f. 
revenir 
revue,  f. 
fusil,  m. 
droit,  e 
demi  a  droits! 
fleuve,  m. 
appel,  m. 
promenade 

militaire 
rdgle,  f. 
courir 
bond,  m. 
selle,  f. 
sel,  m. 
salut,  m. 
V,  saluer 

salut  au  drapeau 
le  meme,  la  meme, 

les  memes 
Samedi,  m. 


Pronunciation. 

leevay,  soolevay 

ar  ■portay 

rank 

razwar 

leer 

ressU 

reJculay 

bier 

relcrii 

Krwar  roozh 

ronhforr 

aysheck 

ser  rerpozay 

rertrayt 

revveneer 

revu 

fuzeee 

drwar,  drwart 

demmee  ar  drwart 

flerv 

appell 

prom  '7iard 

meeleetair 
raigl 
Jcooreer 
horih 
sell 
sell 
sallii 


saliit-o-drappo 

ler  maim,  lar  maim, 

lay  maim 
samdee 


SOLDIERS  *  SPOKEN  FRENCH 


119 


EngUsi 

I. 

Trencii. 

Pronunciation. 

Saucepan 

casserole,  f. 

kasserol 

Sausages  (small) 

saucisses,  f. 

sosiss 

„        (large) 

saiicissons 

sossissonh 

Scarf,  sling 

echarpe,  f. 

aysharp 

School 

ecole,  f. 

aylcoll 

Scout 

eclaireur 

ayclaireur 

Screw 

vis,  f . 

vis 

Secretary  for  War 

Ministre  de  la 

mineestr  der  lar 

guerre 

gai? 

Seems  (it) 

11  semble 

eel  sonhvl 

Send 

envoyer 

onhvoyay 

Sentry 

sentinelle,  f . 

sonhteenell 

Sergeant 

sergent,  m. 

sairzJionh 

Shake 

secouer 

seTcooay 

Sheath 

fourreau,  m. 

foor-ro 

Shed 

hangar,  m. 

onh-garr 

Sheep 

mouton,  m. 

mootonh 

Sheet 

drap,  m. 

drar 

Shell 

oTdus,  m. 

61)113 

Shelter 

at)ri,  m. 

dbhree 

Ship 

bateau,  m. 

haito 

Ship  of  war 

vaisseau,  m. 

vesso 

Shirt 

chemise,  f. 

shemeeze 

Shoe 

Soulier,  m. 

sooliay 

Shoot 

tirer 

teeray 

Shoot  down 

(to) 

abattre  d'un  coup 

ahhatr  dernh  Jcoo 

de  feu 

der  fer 

Shop 

magasin,  m.; 

magazinh; 

boutique,  f. 

booteelc 

Shot 

coup,  m. 

l:oo 

Shout 

crier 

Icreeay 

Shovel 

pelle,  f. 

pell 

Shovel  and 

spade 

pelle-becbe,  £. 

pell  baysh 

(trench  tool) 

120 


SOLDIERS '  SPOKEN  FRENCH 


English. 


Side 

Since 

Site 

Slow 

Slowly 

Smoke 

Smoke  (to) 

Sold 

Somebody 

Sometimes 

Son 

Soon 

Sore,  wound 

Sound  the  alarm 

Soup 

Spade 

Spare 

Sparking-plug 

Speak 

Spend 

Spoon 

Spring   (season) 

Spur 

Spy 

Spy  (to) 

Square  formation 

Stable 

Staff 

Stamp  (postage) 

Stand  up 

Station 

Stay 


French. 


cote,  m. 

depuis 

emplacement,  m. 

lent,  e 

lentement 

fiunee,  f. 

fumer,  v. 

vendu 

quelqu'un; 

quelques-uns 

quelquefois 

fils,  m. 

bientot 

plaie,  f. 

battre  la  generate, 

V. 

soupe,  £. 
beche,  f. 
^pargner 
bougie,  f. 
parler 
depenser 
cuiller,  f. 
printemps,  m. 
eperon,  m. 
espion,  m. 
espionner,  v. 
carre,  m. 
ecurie,  f. 
etat-major,  m. 
timbre,  m. 
se  tenir  debout 
gare,  f. 
rester 


Fronunciation. 

Icotay 

derpwee 

onhplarsmonh 

lonh,  lonht 

lonhtmonh 

fumay 

fumay 

vonhdii 

Tcelkerjih 

TcelTcerzernh 

TcelJcerfwar 

feece 

bienhtoe 

play 

battr  lar 

shaynayral 
soup 
baysh 
ayparnay 
hoozhee 
parrlay 
dayponJisay 
Icwee-yair 
prinhtenh 
aypaironh 
esspeeonh 
espeeonnay 
Tcarray 
ayMree 
aytar  mazhor 
tinhhr 

ser  tenneer  debho 
garr 
restay 


SOLDIERS'   SPOKEN   FRENCH 


121 


English. 

Trench. 

Pronunciation. 

Stockings 

bas,  m. 

hah 

Straw 

paiUe,  f. 

pi(yeh) 

Strength 

force,  f. 

forss 

Stretcher 

brancard,  m. 

bronhTcarr 

Stretcher-bearer 

brancardier,  m. 

hranhlcardiaif 

Suffer 

souffrir 

suffreer 

Summer 

ete,  m. 

aytay 

Sunday- 

dimanche,  m. 

deemonhsh 

Take 

prendre 

prenhdr 

Take  off 

oter 

o-tay 

Talk 

parler 

parrlay 

Target 

cible,  f. 

seehl 

Telephone  (to) 

telephoner 

taylayfonajf 

Tell 

dire 

deerr 

Tent 

tente,  f.;  pavilion, 

tenht;  paveeyonh 

That 

(conj.)    que; 

ker; 

(pron.)    ce,   cette, 

ser,  sett,  say 

ces 

There 

U;7 

tar;  ee 

Thick 

epais,  epaxsse 

aypay,  aypayce 

Thin 

maigre 

■maygr 

Thin^ 

chose,  f. 

shows 

Thought 

pensee;  id^e,  f. 

ponhsay;  eeday 

Thousand 

miile 

meel 

Thursday 

jeudi,  m. 

zherdee 

Till,  until 

jusqu'  a  ce  que 

shiikars'lcer 

Time 

temps,  m.;  fois,  f. 

toah;  ftuar 

Tin 

etain,  m. 

aytanh 

Tip  (money) 

pourbolre,  pa. 

poortwar 

Tobacco 

tabac,  m. 

tahhar  or  tah-lak 

To-day 

aujourd'Uui 

o-zhourd-we^ 

To-morrow 

demain 

dermanh 

*' Tommy  Atkins'' 

(Fr.)  poilu,  m. 

pwarlii 

122 


Snglisli. 


SOLWEES'  SPOKEN   FRENCS 

French.  Pronunciation. 


Too  much 

Tool 

Toothache 

Tooth-brush 

Torpedo  boat 

Touch  (to) 

Towel 

Trace    (horse) 

Transport 

Trenches 

Trooper 

Troops 

Trough 

Trowsers 

True 

Trust  (to) 

Try 

Tuesday 

Typhoid 

Uncle 

Under 

Under  cover 

Understand 

Undertake 

Unfortunate 

Unharness 

Unhook  guns 

Unite 

Unless 

Unpack 

Useful 

Useless 

Valve 


trop  de 

oulil,  m. 

mal  aux  dents 

brosse  a  dents,  f. 

torpilleur,  m. 

toucher 

serviette,  f. 

trait,  m. 

transport,  m. 

tranche  es,  f. 

cavalier 

troupes 

abreuvoir,  m. 

pantalon,  m. 

vrai,  e 

se  fier  k 

essayer 

mardi,  m. 

fievre  typhoide,  f. 

oncle,  m. 

sous,  au  dessus  de 

a  rabri 

comprendre 

entreprendre 

malheureux 

deteler,  v. 

unir,  jolndre 
a  moins  que 
depaqueter 
utile 
inutile 
soupape,  f. 


trd  der 

ootee 

mal  0  donh 

hross  ar  denh 

torpee-yeur 

tooshay 

sairvee-ett 

tray 

tranlisporr 

tronhshaif 

kavaleay 

troop 

ahbrervwar 

panJitallonh- 

way 

ser  feeay  ar 

essayay 

marr^ee 

feeayvr  teefwd{r)d 

onhTcl 

soo,  6  dessii  der 

ar  labhree 

IcompronJidr 

onhtr  'pronhdr 

mal-er-rer 

daytellay 

iin-eer,  zhwarndr 

ar  moynh  ker 

daypaJctay 

iiteel 

eeniiteel 

soopapp 


SOLDIERS'    SPOKEN    FRENCH 


123 


English. 

French. 

Pronunciation. 

Vanish 

s'evanouir 

sayvan-weer 

Varicose   vein 

varice  f. 

varreess 

Veal 

veau,  m. 

vo 

Very 

trds 

tray 

Vet. 

veterinaire,  m. 

vetairinair 

Voice 

voix,  f. 

vwar 

Volley 

volee,  f. 

volay 

Voyage 

voyage,  m. 

voyarzh 

Wagon 

■wagon,  m 

vargonh 

Waist-belt 

ceinturon,  m. 

sinhturonh 

Waistcoat 

gilet,  m. 

Bheelay 

Waiter 

garcon,  m. 

garrsonh 

Wales 

le  pays  de  Galles 

Gal 

War 

guerre,  f. 

gair 

War  office 

ministdre  de  la 

ministair  der  la 

guerre 

gair 

Warrant  officer 

maitre  d' equipage 

maytr   dekkiparzh 

Warship 

batiment    de 

guerre,  m. 

battimenh   der  gair 

Watch   (ship) 

le  quart 

Jcarr 

Watch  (to  be  on) 

etre  aux  aguets 

aytr  oz  aggay 

Water    (horses) 

abreuver,  v. 

aJjhrervay 

Water  bottle 

bidon,  m. 

heedonli 

Wednesday 

mercredi,  m. 

mairhrerdee 

Weigh 

peser,  v. 

perzay 

Well 

puits,  m. 

pwee 

Welsh 

gallois 

gallwar 

Wheel 

roue,  f. 

TOO 

Wheel  into  colnmn 

rompre  en  colonne 

ronJipr  en  Tcolonn 

When? 

quand? 

Icoiih 

Where 

ou 

00 

Where? 

oft? 

00 

Whistle 

slffler 

seefflay 

Whistle-call 

coup  de  sifflet 

Icoo  der  seefflay 

124 


SOLDIERS*   SPOKEN   FREHJCm 


English. 

FrenclL 

Pronunciation. 

White 

blanc,  blanche 

llonh,  llonshe 

Win 

gagner,  v. 

ganay 

Wine 

vin,  m. 

vanh 

Wing 

aile,  f. 

ayle 

Winter 

hiver,  m. 

eevair 

With 

avec 

avvek 

Wool 

laine 

layn 

Wool  (cotton) 

ouate,  f . 

ooart 

Wound 

blessure,  f. 

hlessiir 

Wound  (to) 

blesser,  v. 

blessay 

Wrist 

poignet,  m. 

pwoinay 

Write 

V.  ecrire 

aylcreer 

Tear 

an,     m.;      (whole 
year)  annee,  f. 

ajih;  annag 

Yellow 

jaune 

zTione 

Yesterday 

hier 

ee-air 

Yes 

GUi;    (after   nega- 

weeh; 

tive)  si 

see 

Yet 

encore 

onhkor 

Yonder 

la-bas 

lar  bar 

Young 

jeune 

zhern 

Zone  of  Are 

champ  de  tlr 

shonh  der  teer 

Chasseurs 

d'Afrique 
Spahis 


Turcos 


Zouaves 


FRENCH  TROOPS. 

Shasserr  daffreeTc 

Spa{r)-ee 

TilrTco 

Zoo-arv 


French  cavalry 

Native  troops  from 
N.   Africa; 
(cavalry) 
Native      troops, 
Tunisians,  Arabs, 
etc.   (infantry) 
French  infantry 


SOLDIERS'  SPOKEN  FRENCH 


125 


GEOGRAPHICAL  NAMES. 

N.B.    Names  of  countries  ending  in  e  are  all  feminine. 
Karnes  of  countries  require  the  article  in  French  as  La  France,  France. 


French. 


Afrique 

Aisne,  B. 

AUemagne 

Amerique 

Amiens 

Angleterre 

Anvers 

Ardeimes 

Armentieres 

Arras 

Australia 

Autriche 

BalticLue 
Bapamne 

Bavesnes 

Bazentin 

Beaucourt 

Beaumont 

Belglque 

Bezonvaux 

Boisselle 

Bretagne 

Bulgarie 

Cambrai 

Chambrette 

Charleroy 

Corables 

Contalmaison 

Courcelette 


Pronunciation. 

Afreek 

Ayne 

Al-mi-ne 

Amayreek 

Am-mienh 

Ong-ler-tqir 

Onhvair 

Arr-denn 

Arrmonh-tee-air 

Ar-rar 

Os-tra-lee 

O-treesch 

Bal-teeh 

Bapp-ome 

Bavvayn 

Bazzoiihtinh 

Bo-Jcoor 

Bo-monh 

Bell-2lieeTc 

Bezzonh-vo 

Bwar-sell 

Brett-ine 

Biilgarree 

KomJibray 

Shomhrett 

Sharler-rwar 

Komlihl 

Konhtallmaysonh 

Koorsellett 


EngUsh. 


Africa 


America 

England 
Antwerp 


Australia 
Austria' 

Baltic 


Belgium 


Brittany  (France) 
Bulgaria 


126 


SOLDIERS'  SPOKEN  FRENCH 


French. 

Pronunciation. 

DanyiemarJc 

English. 

Danemark,  m. 

Denmark 

Delville 

Dellveel 

Douay 

Dooay 

Douvres 

Doovr 

Dover 

Ecosse 

A  ykoss 

Scotland 

Egypte 

AyzTieeyt 

Egypt 

Espagne 

Esspiiie 

Spaia 

Falfemont 

Fal-fc-monh 

riandre 

Flonhdr 

Flandera 

Flers 

Flare 

Fontenay 

Fonhternay 

France 

Franhss 

France 

Fricourt 

Freelcoor 

Froide  Terre 

Frward  Taire 

Galles  (Pays  de) 

Gall  (Pay-ee  der) 

Wales 

Galle  (La 

Gall  (Lar  Noovell) 

New  South  Wales 

Nouvelle) 

Gommecourt 

Gommkoor 

Guillemont 

Guee-er-monh 

Grande  Bretagne 

Oronhd  Brett-ine 

Great  Britain 

Grece 

Grayce 

Greece 

Grevillers 

Grervee-yay 

Hamel 

Ammel 

Hardecourt 

Ard'-koor 

Haudromont 

Odro-monh 

HoUande 

OUonhdd 

Hongrie 

Ongree 

Irlande 

Eer-lonTidd 

Ireland 

Ijles 

Eerles 

Italia 

Eetallee 

Italy 

Japon,  m. 

Zhapponh 

Japan 

La  Boisselle 

Lar  Bwarssell 

La  Mancbe 

Lar  MonJish 

The  English 

Channel 

SOLDIERS'  SPOKEN  FRENCH 


127 


French. 

Pronunciation. 

English. 

Less 

Lonhss 

Le  Sars 

Ler  Sarr 

Leuze  (Wood) 

Leurze 

Lesbceufs 

Laij-ler 

Li^ge 

Lee-ayzh 

Ligny 

Leeilee 

Lille 

Leel 

Longueval 

Lonhgervall 

Louvemont 

Loovmonh 

Manche  (la) 

Monhsh 

The  English 

Channel 

Maricourt 

MarreeTcoor 

Manie 

Marrn 

Mer 

Mair 

Sea 

Mer  du  Nord 

Mair  du  norr 

North  Sea 

Meuse 

Merze 

M^zleres 

Mez-e-air 

St.  Mihiel 

Sank  Mee-yel 

Miraumont 

Meer-o-monh 

MontauI)an 

Monht-o-honh 

Montmedy 

Monh-maydee 

Mortliomme 

Morrt-omm 

Morval 

Morr-vall 

Mouquet 

Moo-kay 

Nord 

Norr 

North 

Normandie 

Norr-monh-dee 

Normandy 

Norv^ge 

Nor-vayze 

Norway 

Nouvelle-Z^lande 

Noovell  Zaylonhd 

New  Zealand 

Oise 

Warze 

Paris 

Parr-ee 

Paris 

Pas  de  Calais 

Par  der  Kallay 

Straits  of  Dover 

Peronne 

Payronn 

Poivxe 

PwarvT 

Pojvre  (Peppey> 

128 


SOLDIERS*  SPOKEN  FRENCH 


rrench. 

Pronunciation. 

Peairr-ponh 

Eng 

Pierrepont 

Pologne 

Poll-oyne 

Poland 

Portugal 

Port-ii-gall 

Portugal 

Pozieres 

Poz-iair 

St.  Quentin 

Sanh  Konhtinh 

Eeims 

Banliz 

Bensart 

Eonhsarr 

Eoubaix 

Roohay 

Rouen 

Boo-anh. 

Bussie 

Ttuss-ee 

Russia 

Sars  (le) 

Sarr 

Sainte  Menehoud 

Sanht  Maynoo 

St.  Pierre  Vaast 

Sanh  Peairr 

Va{r)st 

St.  MiMel 

Sanh  Mee-yel 

Seine 

Sayne 

Seine,  R 

Serbia 

Sairlee 

Serbia 

Serre 

Sairr 

Somme 

Somm 

Thiepval 

Teepvall 

Thionville 

Teeonhveel 

Trieste 

Tree-est 

Turquifi 

Tiirr-Tcee 

Turkey 

Verdun 

Vair-dunh 

Vaucherauvllle 

Vo-sher-o-veel 

Ypres 

Eep^r 

, 

INDEX. 


Able,   44,    83,   98. 

Adjectives,   12,   13,  21,  89,  57. 

Advance!    (sound),    96. 

Adverbs,    66. 

Age,    70. 

Ago,    47.. 

Aimer,   43,  45,   46,   52,   54,   63. 

Aller,   31,  44,  45,  47,  48,  59,  77,  78. 

Apple,     96. 

Apportez-moi,    11. 

Articles,   40,   41 

Asking  one's  way,   89,   90,   91. 

Asking    questions,    17,    18,    19,    22 

24,   33,    34,    59. 
Asseyez-vous.   59. 
Attack,     96. 
An,  k  la,   aux,   27-28. 
Avoir,   15,   17,   18,  74. 

Bandage,    94. 

Be,   16,  22,  47,  59.   60.   81. 

Be  able,   44,    83,    98. 

Beau,   21. 

Bed,    102;    to   ask   for.    92. 

Bedroom,    92. 

Behind,    91. 

Be   silent,    85. 

Bill,   92. 

Body,   parts   of,   67,   68,   69. 

Break,    43,    52,    77.    95. 

Breakfast,    92. 

Bridge,    90. 

Bring,    95. 

Broken,    95. 

Camouflage,   109. 
Can,    44,    83. 

Cardinal  numerals,   21,  22,   23,   48, 
49. 


Carry,  77,  95. 

Cass6,   95. 

Cause,    81.  _    , 

Ce,  cette,   ces,   20,  21,   62. 

Ceci,  cela,  70. 

Celui,  celle,  70. 

Cheveux,    58,    91. 

Coinage,    49,    50. 

Cold,    15,    89,    94. 

Collar-bone,    95. 

Come,    33,    47,    86. 

Comment,   li. 

Conjugations,   42. 

Conjunctions,    67. 

Conversation,  13,  14,  17,  19,  24, 
25,  26,  28,  34,  35,  36,  40,  41, 
45,  46,  47,  56,  62,  64,  65.  69, 
89   to   9G. 

Countries,    names    o'f,    125. 

Courir,   78,   79,   95. 

Couvert,   111. 

Couvrir,    79.' 

Cover,    79,    95. 

Cure,   95. 


Days  of  the  week,  60. 

Degree  of  adjectives,  57. 

Depart,    47,    82. 

Devant,  64. 

Dinner,    92. 

Dire,   33,   79,   87. 

Do,   81. 

Doctor,    42,    95. 

Donner,    32,    55,    .56,    74.. 

Dormir,   80. 

Dress    oneself,    59. 

Droit,    20,    89. 

Droite,    20,    90. 

Du,  de  la,  des,  8,  11,  30.  31. 


130 


INDEX 


Ecrire,    80,    87 

En,  28,  58. 

English,    30,    93,    94- 

Envelopes,    92. 

Envoyer,    80,    81. 

Est-ce?,  24. 

Est-ce  que?,   24. 

Etre,  16,  22,  47,  59,  60,    74,    81,    87 

Every,  all,   67 

Faire,  81,   88. 

Feel,    84. 

Feminine  of  adjectives,   12,  21,   57 

Fight,   60. 

Finir,    43,    45,    46,   75,    77. 

Finish,    43,    45,    46.    75,    77 

FoiS,    26. 

Follow,    85. 

Food,    8,    30,    31.    38,    42.    96,   97- 

French,  93. 

Future  Tenses,   48,   52,    53;,    77 

Geographical    names,    125-128i 

Go.    44,    45,    47,    59,    78 

Go   away,    82,    83 

Go   out,   85. 

Greetings,   89 

Guerir,    95 

Habiller,    59. 

Hair,    58,    93. 

Have,   13,  14,  15,  17,  18.  69,  70. 

Help!,   94. 

Help  me!,   94. 

Hill,  90. 

Hold,    86 

"Hold  your   tongue,"    86. 

Hospital,   95. 

How    many?,     15. 

Hungry,  to  be,   15,  69 

Hurt.    69,    95 

If  you  please,   please,  8. 

II  fait,  70,  71. 

II   faut,   20. 

II  y  a,   35,   47,   58. 


Infinitive  used  for  Pres.  Participle, 

77. 
Imperative   Mood,   54,    59,   86. 
Imperfect  Tenses,   74,   7  5,  76. 
Interjections,    67. 
Interrogative   Pronouns,    63.    64. 

Know.   28,   84 

Laugh,  83,  84. 

Le,  la,  les,  6,  7,  37,  41,  55,  50 

Left,   to   the,   20,   90. 

Lequel,   laquelle,   etc.,    64,    65 

Letters,    9,    72,    73,   96, 

Levez-vous,    59. 

Lights    out,    96. 

Like,    43,    114. 

Lire,   81,  82,   88. 

Live,   86. 

Love,  43,   46,   52,  54. 

Luggage,    92. 

Lunch.    92. 

Make,  '81,   96. 

Mai,  69,  95. 

March,    54. 

Matter,  it  does  not,  26. 

Matter,  what  is  the,  with  you?,  61 

Meals,    26,   96,    97. 

Measures  of  length,   49.   50 

Merci,  8,   21. 

Mettre,   59,  60,  82. 

Mettre,  se,  82. 

Milk,    31 

Months   of   year,    30. 

Montrez-mol,  10 

Mou,  21 

N'est-ce  pas?,   33. 

Negatives,    18,    19,    22,    62. 

Next,   48. 

Notepaper,  92. 

Nouveau,  21, 

Number,   40,   92, 

Numerals,  21,  22,  23,  48,  49. 


INDEX 


131 


Offer.    82. 

Officers,    96. 

Ofirir,    82. 

Cn.  62. 

Once,    twice,    etc..    26 

Open,    82 

Ordinal    numerals,    49. 

Qui,   8. 

Ouvrlr,  82. 


Piiin,    69,    95. 

Paper    (note),    92.    (news),    93. 

Parler,    33. 

Participles,    past,    45,    46. 

Participles,   present,   87,    88. 

Partir,    47,    82,    83. 

Parts   of   the   Body,   67,    G8,   69. 

Past   tenses,    46,    47. 

Perdu,   80. 

Pitch    tents,    96. 

Phrases,    89    to   96. 

Pleuvoir,    83. 

Plurals,   7,    10,   39,   50,   57,   50. 

Porter,  77,  95. 

Possessive    adjective*,    39. 

Possessive    case,    31. 

Possessive    pronouns.    63. 

Pour  aller,  31. 

Pouvoir,    44.    83. 

Prenez,  95. 

Prepositions,    64,    66. 

Present  tenses,  32,   33,   53. 

Prochain,  48. 

Promener,  se,   59. 

Pronouns,    37,    39,    40,    41,    54,    55, 

56,   63,   66,   70. 
Pronunciation,    5,    6,    7,    8,    10,    11, 

14,    40.    41,    76,    97. 
Put.   82. 

Quarters    (measure),    50;    (places), 

96. 
Quel,   quelle?,    61. 
Quelle   heure   est-il?,    29. 
Qui?,   que?,    63. 
Quickly,    95. 


Railway,    90. 

Rain,    38,    83. 

Head,    81.    82. 

Receive,    43,    45,    46,    77 

Recevoir,  43,  45,  46,  77. 

Reflexive   verbs,    59,    60. 

Regiment,    26,   40,    89,    91. 

Remember,    85. 

Rendre,    45. 

Rest,    95. 

Retreat,   96. 

Right,    69. 

Right,    on    the,    20,    90. 

Eire,   83,    84,   88. 

Rompre,   43,    77. 

Room,  92. 

Run,   78,   79.   95. 


Saved,    94. 
Savez-vous?,    15. 
Savoir,   84,   88. 
Say.    33,    79.    94. 
Seat  oneself,  82. 
3e  battre,   59,   60. 
See,    32,    37.    87. 
Seek,   62. 
Seen,    17,    40. 
Se  mettre,  59,  60,  82. 
Send.    80,    81. 
S'habiller,   59. 
Se  laver,  59. 

Sent-ences,    8,    11,    15,    20,    28.    29. 
I  39.  40,   42,   60.   63,   89   to  96. 

Sentlr,^  84. 
Se   souvenir,   85, 
Se  taire,  86, 
Shave,   93. 
SI  foF  oui,  93,   124. 
Silent,   86. 
Sit  down,    82. 
Sleep,    80. 
Sling,    94. 
Smell.    84. 
Smile,    85. 
Soldier,   92. 
Some,   8. 


132 


INDEX 


Sortir,   85 

Souffrir,   85. 

Sourite,    85. 

Speak,    33,    93,    94. 

Speak     French.    20,   93,   94 

Stay,    96. 

Street,    90. 

Suivre,   85,  88 

Sun,    91. 

Surrender,    96 

Taisez-vous,    86 

Take,   95. 

Tell,    79 

Tenir,    86. 

Tenses,   73,   74,   75.   76 

That,   63,   70.   71 

The,   6. 

Thirsty,    to   be,    15 

This,   that,    62. 

Time,   the,   29 

Tobacco,    93. 

Tout  droit,  20 

Tout,  toute,   ptc,  67 

Tout  le  monde.  67 

Towel,    92 

Train,    93. 

Troops,   French,    124 

Un,   une,   11. 
Understand;    39,    93 


Vais,  je,  15,  44,  48. 

Vegetables,    60,    97 

Venez-ici,    11 

Veair,   86. 

Verbs,    15,    16,    17,    18.   22,   32,    33, 

42,  43,  44,  45,  46,  47,   76,   77, 

78,  79,   80,  81.   82,  83,  84.  35, 

86,    S7,    ^8. 
Vieux,    21 
Vivre,   86,    87 
Vocabulary  of   military   &   ordinary 

words,    98   to    124. 
VoU^,    11. 

Voir,    32,    45,    87,    88. 
Voia,   Je,    32,    37     55 
Votre,    23,    39. 
Vouloir,   44,  87 
Vu.    17     46. 

Walk,   95 
Want,    44,    96. 
Wash   oneself,    59 
Water,    8,    96, 
Way,   89.    90.   91.   94. 
Weather,   70.   71,   91 
What?,    61. 
Wish,  44.   87 
Write,  80. 
Wrong,    to   be,   70 

Y,    58. 


Printed  in  the  United  States  of  America 


University  of  California 

SOUTHERN  REGIONAL  LIBRARY  FACILITY 

405  Hilgard  Avenue,  Los  Angeles,  CA  90024-1388 

Return  this  material  to  the  library 

from  which  it  was  borrowed. 


PC 

2120 
^608 
1918 


UC  S'^IJTHBRN  REGIONAL  LIBRARY  FACILITY 

'I'll  i!!iii!ir!  rM'iiii  i!'ii  111  mill 


B    000  001  030    6 


"^1  Southe 

^^saMt  Libra: 


